GEORGE TOWN - The Penang state government has announced Special Financial Aid (BKK) equivalent to one month's salary for state civil servants, to be paid in December 2026.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, when tabling the state’s 2027 Budget, said a one-off payment of RM300 would also be given to several groups in the state’s religious and private education sectors.
The recipients include supervisors and teachers of Al-Quran and Fardu Ain Classes (KAFA), teachers of Sekolah Rendah Agama Rakyat (SRAR) and Sekolah Menengah Agama Rakyat (SMAR), staff of SRAR, SMAR and Sekolah Agama Bantuan Kerajaan (SABK), tahfiz and pondok teachers, Islamic kindergarten (TADIS) teachers, as well as teachers and staff of Chinese private schools in the state.
"The special financial assistance and one-off payments will benefit 7,292 recipients, involving a financial implication of RM16.207 million. Throughout 2026, the commitment of Penang civil servants has continued to earn commendable national recognition,” he said at the Penang State Legislative Assembly sitting here today.
Chow also announced a one-off special e-hailing incentive of RM600 for eligible drivers next year, with an allocation ceiling of RM9 million, to support the welfare of public transport workers.
He said RM1.2 million had also been allocated to continue incentive assistance for taxi drivers and school bus operators in 2027.
The state government would maintain the RM58 million allocation for the i-Sejahtera Programme to safeguard the welfare and well-being of vulnerable groups in Penang in 2027, while expanding the programme through the introduction of the Mempelai Emas Programme, he said.
Under the new initiative, eligible couples newly married in Penang would receive a one-off contribution of RM500.
Chow said Penang would also introduce the Penang State Social Development Fund for the first time in 2027, with an allocation of RM350,000 to support various welfare and social development initiatives.
"It is specifically intended to help those in need, address poverty and social inequality, and empower vulnerable groups so that they are not left out of the state’s development,” he said.
Chow tabled the state’s 2027 Budget today, comprising RM1.074 billion in operating expenditure, made up of RM1.042 billion in supply expenditure and RM31.92 million in charged expenditure, while development expenditure totalled RM280.17 million.
He said the state’s estimated revenue for 2027 stood at RM1.069 billion, resulting in an estimated deficit of RM5.62 million, the lowest in the state’s budget history, compared with the projected deficit of RM19.92 million in 2026. - BERNAMA