PENANG civil servants will receive special financial assistance equivalent to one month’s salary, while teachers and staff of various religious and private schools in the state will each receive a one-off payment of RM300.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (PH-Padang Kota) said the payments were a token of appreciation for their contributions to the state’s development and administration.
He said the one-off RM300 payments would benefit 7,292 recipients, involving a total financial implication of RM16.207 million, and would be disbursed in December this year.
The recipients include supervisors and teachers of Al-Quran and Fardu Ain Classes (KAFA), teachers and staff of People’s Religious Primary Schools (SRAR) and People’s Religious Secondary Schools (SMAR), Government-Aided Religious Schools (SABK), tahfiz and pondok teachers, Islamic kindergarten (TADIS) teachers, as well as teachers and staff of private Chinese schools in Penang.
“I am pleased to announce a Special Financial Assistance (BKK) equivalent to one month’s salary for all members of the state civil service,” he said when tabling the Penang Budget 2027 at the State Legislative Assembly sitting today.
Chow said Penang’s civil servants continued to receive national-level recognition for their contributions and performance.
Among the achievements was Penang recording the highest number of completed projects among states under the 2025 Bureaucratic Red Tape Reform (RKB) initiative.
The Penang State Secretary’s Office also received the Excellent Organisation Recognition under the Integrity and Governance Management System (SPINE) assessment, scoring 97.84%.
On the state government’s manifesto promises, Chow said 30 of the 50 promises made during the 2023 State Election had been fully fulfilled as of October this year.
He said another 18 promises were being implemented, while efforts to fulfil the remaining two were ongoing.
“With about two years remaining in the current administration’s term, the state is committed to ensuring that all 50 manifesto promises are fulfilled for the people of Penang,” he said.
He added that the progress of the promises could be monitored through the digital MyPenang Manifesto dashboard.
On Budget 2027, Chow said it was not merely about figures and financial allocations, but also reflected the state government’s commitment to fulfilling the aspirations of Penang residents, regardless of their backgrounds or ideologies.
He said the state’s progress must bring meaningful benefits to the people, including creating job opportunities for the younger generation, helping families own comfortable homes, improving mobility and protecting communities from disasters and climate change.
“The state will continue to strengthen Penang’s position as a competitive state that commands respect on the global stage, without neglecting its responsibility to ensure that every resident has the opportunity to build a better life,” he said.
Chow said the Penang2030 vision had provided a clear direction for the state’s development, while Budget 2027 represented another important step towards achieving its goals.
Story by Edmund Lee