PETALING JAYA, 14 Sept: The Selangor state reserves continued to increase to over RM3.35 billion despite expenditure allocated for various welfare programmes have increased.
Among the programmes include the giving of free water, the Selangor Children’s Fund (TAWAS), the award for children entering universities, benevolent fund, the Jom Shopping programmes, interest-free loans for starting businesses for residents of the city and countryside, free medical treatment and so on.
The Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, said that more than 3.5 million Selangorians benefited from these programmes.
“Since the Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor (MES) agenda was launched in June 2008, the State Government has spent over RM1.53 billion on welfare programmes,” he said.
He was speaking at the Selangor Lantern Festival 2014 at the Chempaka Buddhist Lodge yesterday.
On the Lantern Festival, Abdul Khalid said that the State Government plans to make it into a tourist attraction in conjunction with the Visit Selangor Year 2015.
Therefore, he hopes that the Chinese community in the state will make suggestions for the success of this plan.
The Selangor Lantern Festival 2014, which began early last night, was lively and an estimate of 10,000 people were present.
It was also attended by the Executive Councillor in charge of Education and Human Capital Development, Dr Halimah Ali, and the Mayor of Petaling Jaya, Datin Paduka Alinah Ahmad.
NS
