Firemen to get RM200 special allowance

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 13,342 fire and rescue personnel will receive a special allowance of RM200 per month effective April 1.
Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar said the allowance was the government's appreciation towards the contribution of the force.
He said the government would be allocating RM32 million a year for the allowance.
Noh also announced an increase in allowances for auxiliary firemen from RM6 to RM8 per hour for staff and from RM7.80 to RM9.80 per hour for officers, which would benefit 2,500 auxiliary firemen with an allocation of RM9.6 million a year.
"This is a gift to all firefighters in conjunction with the Firefighters' Day on April 28," he said when winding up debate on the motion of thanks for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's royal address for his ministry at the Dewan Rakyat here today.
Meanwhile, Noh said a special fund would be created to reward consumers for using their own bags during shopping in Selangor if the Barisan Nasional won the next general election.
"If BN wins (in Selangor), if you don't bring your own bag, you have to pay 20 sen, those who bring their own bags, they will be given 20 sen as a reward," he said.
He said the initiative would eventually reduce people's dependence on plastic bags and become part of their lifestyle.
Earlier, Noh questioned the effectiveness of the "No Plastic Bag" campaign following a statement by Selangor executive councillor in charge of Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs Elizabeth Wong on July 24, 2017 that the sale of plastic bags hit RM1.8 million in five months.
"During that period, about nine million plastic bags were sold. If this happens, how the ban on plastic bags will be effective?" he asked. — Bernama