SHAH ALAM, Mar 7 – Suggestions by certain parties for State Executive Council (Exco) Members’ and State Assemblymen’s allowances to be reduced due to the current recession will not make much of a difference, said Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

The Dato’ Menteri Besar said if this suggestion was implemented, it would only result on a reduction of about RM1 million, whereas the state government has already taken steps to stimulate the state’s economic growth amounting to RM50 billion.

“This is a good move, but if we increase state development by RM50 billion, I think it would be more effective,” he said to reporters after launching the Retrenched Workers Registration Programme at the Registration Counter of the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) this morning.

Earlier, Abdul Khalid in his speech said the state government had taken early steps to handle the economic recession by identifying five main fields that would stimulate economic growth in the state.

These fields involve the cleaning and recovery of the Klang River, expand the transportation system,  upgrade the water industry , town reform activities and redeveloping abandoned housing projects.

He said besides create investment opportunities worth RM50 billion, these steps were also expected to open up 200,000 job opportunities.

Touching on the current economic situation, Abdul Khalid said many countries were already facing serious economic problems with millions of workers having to be retrenched.

“The United States, for instance, is facing its highest umemployment rate in 27 years with more than 5 million workers being laid off.. In China, 20 million people have lost their jobs and in Germany, a million workers have been affacted,” he said.

He said this situation could also be faced by Malaysia and hence early action has to be taken.

“Instead, here in Malaysia we are still ‘comfortable’ because we feel the ’storm’ is still far away and we hope that it would not happen here.

“The truth is, I feel this situation will worsen and have an adverse effect on us (economically),” he said.

He said Selangor was one of the first few states to tackle the problems relating to the recession and find a way to assist approximately 3,000 employees who had lost their jobs through the Retrenched Workers Registration Programme developed by ihe Selangor Information Communications and Technology (ICT) Centre with Jobstreet.com Sdn Bhd.

He said, besides registering on the state government’s official website, www.selangor.gov.my , nine counters would also be opened for this purpose in local authorities (PBT).

These included the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj), Klang Municipal Council (MPK), Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ), Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ), Sepang Municipal Council (MPSepang) and Kuala Langat District Council (MDKL). – NOOR ALLIA KASSIM