State polls: Cash aid for the elderly, laptops for B40 students among promises in BN-PH’s Negri manifesto

SEREMBAN: Senior citizens aged 70 years and above will receive a RM200 annual payment for the next five years from the Negri Sembilan government if Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional succeed in forming the state administration.

Those getting married for the first time would also be given RM500 cash assistance while single mothers earning less than RM2,000 a month will get an annual aid of RM200.

State Pakatan chief Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun (pic) said this was one of the pledges from the pact under the “Peoples’ Wellbeing Scheme” (Skim Sejahtera Rakyat) contained in its manifesto titled “Aspirasi Perpaduan Negri Sembilan”.

“There will also be a RM100 payment into a education-cum-savings scheme for every child born and RM300 for every student entering a fully residential school.

“A RM1,000 cash incentive will be given to students who obtain straight As in their SPM, STPM and STAM examinations.

“We will also continue with the RM1,000 aid given to students enrolling for a degree programme into a tertiary institution, RM750 to those pursuing a diploma and RM500 for a certificate course,” he said when unveiling the joint manifesto here.

Free laptops would also be given to students from B40 families pursuing their Form Six while undergraduates studying at public universities would also be given RM150 a month to help them with their expenses.

Aminuddin said graduates who obtained a first-class degree would also be rewarded with RM5,000 and any education loan taken from the Negri Sembilan Foundation would be written-off.

Also, students who wish to pursue their Master’s or PhD programmes at local public universities would also be eligible to apply for interest-free loans.

A special programme to improve English proficiency among students and free tuition classes for children from poor families would also be introduced.

In total, there were 10 main thrusts and 70 initiatives under the joint manifesto.

Also present at the launch were state Umno chief Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias as well as leaders from Barisan and Pakatan component parties.

The pact also gave their commitment to improving the state’s economy, investment and infrastructure, education and human capital, entrepreneurship, housing, agriculture, tourism and the environment, religion, culture and the wellbeing of the Orang Asli, the state civil service and Felda settlers.

This included opening new industrial areas, restructuring smaller towns to ensure there was no large-scale migration and better internet services.

The pact had also agreed to issue free hawkers licenses for five years, increase the monthly welfare aid from RM270 to RM300 and RM320 to RM350 and continue with the Dialysis Treatment Fund for the needy.

Youths from B40 families aged between 16 and 21 would also be given vouchers worth RM150 to apply for their motorcycle licenses.

More e-sports facilities and childcare centres at selected government departments would be set up.

The pact would also continue with the Negri Sembilan Entrepreneur Fund (TUNS), TUNS Plus and TUNS Extra to help entrepreneurs and petty traders and provide digital marketing assistance to promote local products.

Efforts to build 4,000 affordable homes in the next five years would also be carried out.

Aminuddin said special assistance would also be given to fishermen and a fund set up to help families of those involved in accidents at sea while farmers using smart technology to increase their food output would also be given incentives and cash assistance.

If elected, they would also do more to promote tourism which includes research programmes at Gua Pasoh which is said to be the place where the remains of the earliest human in the country were discovered as well as food tourism in all districts.

More Islamic programmes would be carried out in all districts and the well-being of the Felda settlers and Orang Asli community would continue to remain a priority.