IPOH: The Perak state government has announced a RM500 special bonus in conjunction with Hari Raya celebration for its 7,000 civil servants and pensioners.
In making the announcement, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the payment would be made before Hari Raya.
"The payment will cost the state RM3.5mil," he told reporters after handing out bubur lambuk to State Secretariat personnel here Wednesday.
He hoped the payment would help alleviate the burden of staff in the support category.
On a separate matter, Dr Zambry said the state was looking into how to empower the destitute who are currently receiving aid from the state Welfare Department.
"We are taking a second look at how effective the system of giving aid to the poor by the Welfare Department," he said.
The state, he said, would work with Yayasan Bina Upaya to provide training for them.
"Most of them are in their 40s and can be productive if they wanted," he added.
