SHAH ALAM, Oct 30 — Twenty-three cleaners at the State Secretariat Building have received Jom Shopping Deepavali vouchers to help ease the cost of preparing for the festival.
The vouchers were presented by Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari during a ceremony in the building lobby today, which was also attended by state executive councillor for human resources and poverty eradication Papparaidu Veraman and state executive councillor for women empowerment and social welfare Anfaal Saari.
Each recipient received a RM200 voucher, which can be used to purchase essential goods at Lotus’s Shah Alam.
One recipient, P. Parwathy, 61, said the assistance would help her complete her Deepavali preparations, particularly by buying groceries and ingredients to make muruku.
“Thank you to the Menteri Besar and EXCOs for the Deepavali voucher. I can buy groceries, and it is a relief because there are still a few things I have yet to buy.
“I want to use it to buy flour to make muruku,” said Parwathy, who has worked as a cleaner for three years.
Another recipient, P. Mohanabal, 60, said the voucher would help her purchase basic necessities such as rice and cooking oil.
She has worked at the SUK Building for two years and appreciated the assistance, particularly as this was the second time she had received a voucher, along with a festive cash gift.
“I have received the voucher twice, and it is very helpful because I can use it to buy groceries. I have only been working here for two years, but I have already received the voucher.
“Thank you to the Selangor government for the voucher and also an angpau. I am really happy,” Mohanabal said.
Previously, Papparaidu said 26,354 vouchers under the Jom Shopping Deepavali programme had been distributed to eligible recipients this year, involving an allocation of RM5.27 million.
The programme is being carried out simultaneously in all 56 state constituencies from October 17 to November 7.
He said the distribution method remains unchanged from last year, with vouchers handed over to state constituency offices before being distributed to recipients for use at selected supermarkets.
