KOTA KINABALU, NOV 15 – The Sabah government is giving assistance of RM300 a month for a period of one year to the poor and extreme poor in the state through the Sabah Budget 2025.
The state Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun when presenting the budget at the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Conference today said the initiative which was held for the first time involved an allocation of RM358.5 million.
He said the poor and extreme poor who deserve assistance have been identified through the Sentuhan Kasih Rakyat Program and it is hoped, among other things, to help reduce the pressure of the current high cost of living.
“This assistance is also expected to reduce the financial burden in a certain period thus giving them room to adapt and find other ways to increase their income,” he said.
Masidi said that as a continuous effort to ensure that these groups do not fall behind the flow of development, living standards and economy, the Sabah government also allocated RM488.5 million to implement various programs to eradicate poverty.
He said as much as RM250 million was allocated for the construction of 3,000 units of Rumah Mesra Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) in all 73 DUN constituencies, a 100 percent increase in allocation compared to this year’s budget.
“As of last month, a total of 4,482 Rumah Mesra SMJ have been built to enable the poor and extreme poor to have their own homes, a place for them and their families to stay,” he said.
In addition, he said small roadside stall traders who have a valid business license will also for the first time be given a one-time payment of RM5,000. – Named
