THE Penang government is mulling the possibilities of fully funding the Village Community Management Councils (MPKKs) in the state.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that the Federal Government had sent a notice to the state government to suspend all MPKK activities.
“The Federal Government also mentioned that it is only paying the MPKK allowances until February,” Chow told a press conference in Kedah Road today.
The Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) had undergone a restructuring process in 2018 and was redesignated as MPKK.
Chow said the state government felt that the MPKKs in Penang had a crucial role in aiding the community.
“They reach out to the people and highlight community issues to the state,” he said.
Chow, stating an example, said an MPKK chairman earned an allowance of RM700 a month.
“The Federal Government would pay RM500 while the state government would top up RM200 to make it RM700.”
It was reported that the secretary of MPKKs were also receiving allowance.
“Now that the Federal Government has stopped the funding, we will have to look into the state’s budget to see if we can fully fund the MPKKs in Penang.
“Our wish is that the MPKKs can continue their services. Currently, it is ‘operation as usual’ for Penang,” Chow said.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Alissala Thian
Video by Alvie Cheng