GEORGE TOWN, Oct 31 — Penang civil servants will receive special financial assistance equivalent to one month’s salary, while teachers and staff of religious and private schools in the state will receive a one-off RM300 payment under Budget 2027.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (PH-Padang Kota) said the assistance was a token of appreciation for their contributions to the state’s development and administration.

He announced the special financial assistance (BKK) when tabling the Penang Budget 2027 at the State Legislative Assembly sitting today.

The RM300 payment will benefit 7,292 recipients, involving a total financial allocation of RM16.207 million, and is scheduled to be disbursed in December.

The recipients include supervisors and teachers of Al-Quran and Fardu Ain Classes (KAFA), staff and teachers of People’s Religious Primary Schools (SRAR), People’s Religious Secondary Schools (SMAR), Government-Aided Religious Schools (SABK), tahfiz and pondok schools, Islamic kindergartens (TADIS), as well as private Chinese schools in Penang.

Chow said the state’s civil servants continued to earn national recognition for their performance and contributions.

Among the achievements was Penang recording the highest number of completed projects among states under the 2025 Bureaucratic Red Tape Reform (RKB) initiative.

The Penang State Secretary’s Office also received the Excellent Organisation Recognition under the Integrity and Governance Management System (SPINE), scoring 97.84 per cent.

On the state government’s manifesto commitments, Chow said 30 of the 50 promises made during the 2023 State Election had been fully fulfilled as of October this year.

Another 18 promises were being implemented, while work was ongoing to fulfil the remaining two.

“With about two years remaining in the current administration’s term, the state is committed to ensuring that all 50 manifesto promises are fulfilled for the people of Penang,” he said.

Chow said progress on the promises could be monitored through the digital MyPenang Manifesto dashboard.

He said Budget 2027 was not merely about figures and financial allocations, but also reflected the state government’s commitment to fulfilling the aspirations of Penang residents, regardless of their backgrounds or ideologies.

The state’s development, he said, must translate into meaningful benefits for the people, including job opportunities for the younger generation, affordable and comfortable homes for families, improved mobility and stronger protection against disasters and climate change.

“The state will continue to strengthen Penang’s position as a competitive state that commands respect on the global stage, without neglecting its responsibility to ensure that every resident has the opportunity to build a better life,” he said.

Chow added that the Penang2030 vision had provided a clear direction for the state’s development, with Budget 2027 serving as another important step towards achieving its goals.