RM1,000 aid to poor families
By The New Straits Times
June 9, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor residents who earn RM1,500 and below now qualify for welfare aid from the state.

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said that the move was part of the state government's efforts to help ease citizens' financial burden following the recent fuel price increase.

"While trying to reduce costs (of expenditure at state level), we will also try to increase the state's income so that we can use the revenue for welfare services," he said.

The move to raise the poverty level (from RM760 for a family of five) was to cushion the impact of rising prices of fuel, rice and other commodities.

"We have started to help those in the RM1,500 and below income group.
"We're offering RM1,000 to parents earning RM1,500 and below who are sending their children to university and require funds for initial payments," Khalid said.