KUCHING: Twelve new policies of the state government will be effective next year.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg revealed the 12 policies during the tabling of the State 2020 Budget in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly in November this year.
The 12 new policies are as follows:
1. Smoking and vaping will be banned in all eateries nationwide, effective from Jan 1 next year.
2. RM450 post-natal care (one-off) for new mothers; the recipients will receive RM150 per month for three months.
3. RM5 subsidy on the monthly water bill for all residents of Sarawak.
4. 24 hours’ electricity for 13,000 rural households and 7,000 households via the off-grid system.
5. Free electricity for 5,000 houses in 192 villages or longhouses in rural areas via the renewable off-grid system.
6. Free electricity connection charges for low-income households under “Skim Projek Rakyat”; full subsidy for charges of RM5,000 while charges between RM5,000 and RM10,000 will get 70 per cent subsidy.
7. Housing loans for B40 households for purchasing houses developed by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC).
8. Free school bus programme for all students (hop-off) to start in Kuching City and then expand to all cities in Sarawak.
9. RM300 plus fishing equipment assistance for each fisherman during the wet season.
10. RM30 million assistance for Sarawakian PTPTN borrowers who have difficulties in paying back the loans.
11. RM30 million assistance for entrepreneurs through the Micro Credit Scheme (MCS).
12. RM4 million assistance to enhance brilliance in youth and sports through the Sarawak Youth Venture Capital.
