Extreme Measures at Extreme Time- Part 4

• I am pleased with DAP 's government taking another good step to reduce burden of the poor. RM100 might be a small amount for certain people, but at least the expenditure allocated is spending wisely. At the end, rakyat are benefited.

• My salute to Lim Guan Eng, who has consistently come out with policies that will benefit rakyat, not like the neighbouring Terengganu's Umno state government who is famous for big spending.....not on rakyat but on their own.

One-off payment for families earning below RM1,500 a month in Penang

GEORGE TOWN: Families in the state whose collective monthly income is below RM1,500 will receive RM100 each in compassionate aid from the state government.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said application forms would be distributed to the eligible families through water-meter readers soon.

“This one-off measure is a small token of solidarity and support in the face of rising fuel prices,” he said.

“We are also distributing this aid, which is expected to exceed RM10mil, to show that the state government can, and should, provide measures to lighten the burden of the poor,” Lim said at the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) office in Komtar yesterday.

He added that those staying in low and medium-low-cost houses and flats would automatically receive the aid and would not be given the applications forms.

On the form of payment, Lim said it would depend on the number of families involved.

“The money will go through the PBAPP and the families will receive the aid by the end of the year,” he said, adding that cash rebates were unlikely as it was “problematic”.

PBAPP general manager Jaseni Maidinsa, who was also present at the announcement, said water- meter readers were the best people to distribute the forms.

“The application forms will be distributed along with the bi-monthly water bill and consumers have until Sept 30 to return the completed forms to any of the eight PBAPP customer service centres,” he said.

The centres are located at Komtar, Prai, Bukit Mertajam, Jawi, Rifle Range, Kepala Batas, Taman Selat and Balik Pulau.