Selangor rolls out RM209m economic shield to combat layoffs, supply crisis

SHAH ALAM - The Selangor government has rolled out 15 new initiatives valued at RM209.26 million under Phase 2 of the Selangor Resilience Strengthening Package to shield residents, traders and industries from the fallout of the global supply chain crisis.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the measures were drafted after the state government closely analysed the crisis' impact on the local economy, which includes soaring business overheads and job losses across vital sectors.

Data from the Social Security Organisation (Socso) revealed that 10,869 Selangor citizens lost their jobs between January and May this year, with the retail and manufacturing sectors bearing the brunt of the layoffs.

"The state government is moving beyond raw cash handouts to create new avenues for our people through entrepreneurship, upskilling and targeted protection for disrupted economic sectors," Amirudin told a special State Legislative Assembly sitting on Friday.

The largest initiative announced is the expansion of the Selangor Advance (SA500) programme, backed by a RM100 million allocation to inject cash flow into companies and contractors working on state, district and local authority projects.

Amirudin also unveiled the RM20 million Dana Pantas Usahawan (Entrepreneurs' Fast Fund), which offers interest-free loans of up to RM10,000 per entrepreneur with a repayment window of up to three years.

To support small traders, local authority property rents will be slashed by 30% for six months from July to December this year. The automated discount will instantly benefit 21,234 merchants without requiring an application process.

"The state will also offer loan restructuring to 6,000 entrepreneurs funded by Yayasan Hijrah, waiving any additional interest or penalty charges," he said.

For displaced workers, the state has earmarked RM4 million for the PLATS Career Transition Programme. This initiative provides baseline entrepreneurship training, 12 months of free internet data and travel allowances for participants. Concurrently, the RM1.5 million Selangor Career Programme will run to match job seekers' skills with industrial demands.

"In the agricultural sector, the state has set aside RM6 million for the Selangor Agropreneur Aid, benefiting 2,469 farmers and fishermen through cash or voucher assistance valued between RM300 and RM600," Amirudin noted.

"The state is also introducing a three-month Smart Sewa rent moratorium for 1,012 tenants from October to December 2026, alongside a housing loan holiday for 2,333 state civil servants over the same period."

Turning to education and tech development, Amirudin announced the establishment of the RM17 million Kita Selangor Education Scholarship to fund top students pursuing strategic disciplines like artificial intelligence (AI), automation, engineering and electronics.

Furthermore, RM20 million has been committed to the Teraju IKTISASS programme. Among other goals, the fund will provide Google AI certification training to 500 teachers alongside professional upskilling courses for thousands of participants.

Working mothers will see reinforcement as well, with the Mama Kerja aid topped up by RM5 million, bringing its total fund to RM10 million, to subsidise childcare costs for children aged six and under.

"To drive green technology adoption, the state is offering a 100% assessment tax rebate for homeowners who install eco-friendly amenities such as solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems and electric vehicle chargers," Amirudin said.

The combined funding for Phase 1 and Phase 2 now stands at RM355.06 million, forming a robust economic buffer designed to safeguard welfare amidst volatile global markets.