KUALA LUMPUR: A total of RM1.5bil has been allocated for development, economic stimulus programmes and cash aid for Melaka this year, says Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

       "This year alone, a total of RM534mil was prepared under estimated development expenditure for Melaka involving 161 projects. Also, a Federal Government allocation of RM205mil was given to the state government," he said.

       "Overall, allocations prepared under economic stimulus packages, development and Federal allocation to the state for 2021 is estimated at RM1.5bil," the Finance Minister added in reply to Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Nov 18).

       He added that RM494mil was allocated for cash aid to 306,540 recipients under Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat and special Covid-19 aid as well as those who had lost their income during the pandemic.

       "A total of RM155mil was also channelled through Geran Khas Prihatin to benefit almost 36,940 micro and small enterprises," he added.

       He also said RM150mil was given through the Wage Subsidy Programme.

       "This benefitted over 5,000 employers and saved more than 49,000 jobs," he added.

       He said the Federal Government had also made an advance RM250mil allocation to the state.

       For 2022, Zafrul said Melaka will receive RM210mil as annual allocation.

       "RM57mil will be allocated for development expenditure for 171 development projects.

       "Of these projects, 39 are new projects involving RM51.8mil," he said.

       Besides these allocations for the state for next year, Tengku Zafrul said over RM300mil will be allocated to benefit almost 300,000 Melaka folk through monthly welfare aid under Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia.

       To a question by Nurul Izzah Anwar (PH-Permatang Pauh), he said the Federal Government had provided over RM670mil to states facing revenue deficit such as Perlis, Kelantan, Pahang, Kedah and Melaka between 2014 and 2019.

       So far, he added, the Federal Government had also provided RM1.3bil in advance allocation to these states, of which RM1.26bil had yet to be settled.