RM500 wedding present for newly-married couples in Penang next year

 E-hailing drivers to get RM600 one-off incentive next year, while state civil servants will get a month's bonus in December.

The Penang state government’s 2027 budget tabled today provides for a one-off contribution to eligible newly-married couples next year. (Envato Elements pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Eligible newly married couples in Penang will receive a one-off contribution of RM500 from the state government next year. The aid is part of financial measures announced by the state government in its 2027 budget tabled today.

A one-off incentive of RM600 will be paid to eligible e-hailing drivers next year, said chief minister Chow Kon Yeow, with RM1.2 million allocated to continue incentive assistance for taxi drivers and school bus operators, Bernama reported.

He said state civil servants will get one month’s salary as special financial aid to be paid in December, while staff and teachers of religious and Chinese private schools will receive a one-off payment of RM300.

Chow said a social development fund will be introduced, 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.

The state’s 2027 budget allocates RM1.074 billion for operating expenditure and RM280 million for development expenditure. - FMT