Perak MB: No time limit for me to form a cabinet

CORONAVIRUS | Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu said the law does not prescribe a time limit for him to form a cabinet, and he will get to it when the movement control order (MCO) is lifted.

In a special address today that was live-streamed on his Facebook page, Faizal said claims that Perak doesn't have a government was not true, and the government machinery was still functioning.

"The state administration is still operated by the respective department heads... through close cooperation with the state secretary and other members of the administration, the menteri besar can still administer the state.

"During the MCO period, administrative work is headquartered in an operation centre and our focus is on helping those in need," he said.

Faizal said he was only reappointed as a menteri besar on March 13 - three days before the MCO was announced - and he was forced to postpone the appointment of a new cabinet.

Meanwhile, Faizal said the state government has allocated RM2.5 million for food and other necessities that will be channelled to health workers, security personnel and local enforcement personnel.

He said the RM900 special cash handout would be paid in three tranches to 2,600 other front line workers such as waste collectors, grass cutters and local enforcement personnel, whom Faizal all describe as "heroes".

He said all 986 Village Community Management Council chairpersons would be paid a RM500 "special allowance" to help those in need.

Although this position is a political appointment, Faizal said everyone would receive the allowance, and it proved that his administration was not playing politics in a time of crisis.

He also topped up another RM20,000 in funds for all 59 state assemblypersons that can be used for welfare activities.

"Sama rata, sama rasa (fair for all), no difference in treatment," he said.

Faizal also imposed a three-month payment waiver for state government-run schemes such as the Harapan housing scheme, stall rentals at local government-run facilities and the state-run micro-credit scheme. - Mkini