Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the assistance was made through 22 initiatives carried out through five different phases, including the provision of cash assistance to 17,935 traders, hawkers and taxi drivers amounting to RM3.58 million.

In addition, cash assistance amounting to RM1.8 million was channelled to those in the tourism industry, and to micro-e-hailing entrepreneurs, military veterans, former policemen, 505 Territorial Army Regiment volunteers and fishermen without permits.

“This amount also includes an allocation of RM4.7 million to frontline personnel in Pahang in the task of dealing with this pandemic apart from the provision of a special incentive of RM500 per person to 98 hospital and clinic staff in Pahang assigned to Sabah,” he said.

Wan Rosdy said this while presenting the 2021 budget at the state assembly today.

He said RM4.744 million had been spent on providing RM150 cash and food items worth RM50 to 23,720 recipients including through community leaders and NGOs.

Meanwhile, RM100 and RM50 in necessities were given to 3,975 Orang Asli involving RM596,000 apart from RM200 cash assistance to 3,060 students stranded due to the implementation of the movement control order.

He said RM573,000 was raised for the Covid-19 fund from a six-month voluntary pay cut among the 4,589 Pahang civil servants.

Wan Rosdy said the state’s revenue amounted to RM730.26 million compared to the target of RM744 million, while state government expenditure was RM560.78 million.

The state government also had a deposit investment in financial institutions worth RM250 million by 2020, the highest amount in state history.

Wan Rosdy said the Covid-19 epidemic had affected the progress of the construction of the Sultan Ahmad Shah Administrative Centre here. The actual progress as of last October was at 53.5% completion.

The sitting continues tomorrow.