PENANG CIVIL SERVANTS TO RECEIVE BKK OF 0.75 MONTH'S SALARY - CHOW

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 14 (Bernama) --  The Penang government has announced a 0.75-month salary or minimum RM1,000 Special Financial Aid (BKK) to 3,954 state civil servants as an appreciation for their service in the state administration.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who announced this during the tabling of the state's Budget 2026, said the aid would be paid next month, involving a financial implication of RM11.49 million.

He said that, in addition, supervisors and teachers of Quran and Fardu Ain classes (KAFA), teachers of Sekolah Rendah Agama Rakyat (SRAR) and Sekolah Menengah Agama Rakyat (SMAR), as well as staff of SRAR, SMAR and Sekolah Agama Bantuan Kerajaan (SABK) will also receive an additional one-off RM300 payment.

"Others who will also receive the RM300 are tahfiz, pondok and Islamic kindergarten (TADIS) teachers, as well as teachers and staff of Chinese private schools in the state, totalling 3,358 individuals,” he said when tabling the budget at the State Legislative Assembly here today.

Meanwhile, Chow said the state government has introduced the Contract Staff Sick Leave Aid (BCSK) initiative as an additional welfare measure to ensure civil servants hired under the Interim Contract Appointment (LKI) scheme continue to receive appropriate protection when faced with serious health problems.

He said that through the implementation of the initiative, LKI officers who are certified as being unable to work due to health reasons and meet the stipulated eligibility conditions can be considered for aid payments, with the payment rate being equal to the officer's current emoluments.

"This initiative reflects the state government's concern and commitment towards the welfare of contract-appointed officers, in addition to expressing the principles of governance based on well-being, empathy and social justice in the management of the state's public-sector human resources,” he said.

Penang has adopted a new policy of recruiting civil servants through LKI in line with the Federal Government's policy, effective Jan 1, 2025.

Chow today tabled the state's RM1.088 billion budget for operating expenditure, with a projected deficit of RM19.92 million, the lowest in the state's history.

The 2026 Budget's operating expenditure reflects an increase of RM147.72 million, or 15.71 per cent, compared to Budget 2025, which totalled RM940.223 million.

-- BERNAMA