JOHOR BARU: The Johor government will be giving a one-off financial assistance to 958 creative industry players to help them through the Covid-19 pandemic.

       Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the aid, disbursed under the state's third Ihsan Johor economic stimulus package, meant that it had not forgotten the contributions of the creative industry.

       "Although not a big amount, it is a gesture of appreciation for their sacrifice and hard work.

       "I hope that this aid helps to lighten their burden in some way," he said after handing out the aid to four industry representatives on Monday (July 26).

       Among the recipients were silat and theatre veteran Othman Jupri, 80s singer Siti Zaleha Abdul Hamid, wushu practitioner Lee Swee Seng, classical dancer K. Usha Rani and actor Abdul Rasip Yahya, better known as Mat Sentol.

       Hasni added that the state government also channelled assistance to 11 federations and associations registered under the Johor Cultural Council and 10 district cultural councils through the third Ihsan Johor economic stimulus package, announced in June.