KUANTAN: The Pahang government has spent RM141.78 million under the Bantuan Prihatin Pahang (BPP), which is aimed to assist and alleviate the people's burden.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said some RM31 million was spent between 2020 and 2021 followed by RM30 million in 2022 and RM42 million last year.
"So far, this year we have spent RM38 million for the 20 initiatives implemented through BPP.
Two new BPP programmes were introduced this year namely Berkhatan Anak Pahang (circumcision) involving an allocation of RM1 million and RM300 per couple under the non-Muslims and Orang Asli first marriage incentive.
"Year One pupils and first-year undergraduates at higher learning institutions along with senior citizens who require to undergo cataract surgeries are also those who benefit from the BPP. The state government is always striving to widen the scope of the BPP programmes so that more people will benefit," he said when replying to a question by Thomas Su Keong Siong (DAP-Ketari) on the total amount spent for BPP and efforts to expand the aid programme during the question and answer session at the state assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang here today.
On a supplementary question by Su on plans to expand the BPP to needy single mothers and housewives across Pahang, Wan Rosdy replied that it largely depends on the state's financial position.
"Each BPP initiative is introduced based on our financial situation... we have our fixed expenditures including paying the salaries of civil servants and other costs. We are in the midst of assisting single mothers and BPP incentives to assist housewives will be studied," he said.
Meanwhile, state Islamic Religious Affairs, Rural Development and Orang Asli Affairs chairman Datuk Seri Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad said 32 Orang Asli villages across Pahang still do not have electricity supply, seven without clean water supply and 35 have no proper road.
"Pahang has a total of 266 Orang Asli settlements. Villages without water, electricity and access roads are due to various reasons including location, geographical challenges and land status.
"However, the state government, the Orang Asli Development Department and other government agencies have been assisting to provide alternative resources including providing the mini hydro power plant and digging up tube wells at certain areas," he said when replying to a question by Chan Chun Kuang (PKR- Semambu) on the number of Orang Asli villages in Pahang and those without water, electricity and road facilities.