Menteri besar Sanusi Nor made the announcement when tabling the Kedah 2024 budget at Wisma Darul Aman here.

“The state government appreciates the sacrifices and contributions of state civil servants.

“A sum of RM2,000 has been agreed to be given as special financial assistance to state civil servants and members of the state administration, involving an allocation of RM10.8 million.

“Payment of this special financial assistance will be made partially next month and the rest in March next year,” he said.

Apart from that, special one-off assistance will be given to state-appointed imams, village council (MKK) chairmen and secretaries in March as Aidilfitri assistance.

“The one-off special aid rate for them will be determined later,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sidam assemblyman Bau Wong Bau Ek was named the new opposition leader in the state assembly.

Speaker Zubir Ahmad announced the appointment of Bau Wong, from PKR, who replaces former Suka Menanti assemblyman Zamri Yusuf.

Bau Wong, 56, is one of the three Pakatan Harapan candidates who won seats in the 33-member assembly in the state election in August.

He won the Sidam seat with a 954-vote majority over Perikatan Nasional’s Juliana Abdul Ghani.

Bau Wong was a special officer to Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul from 2018 to 2022, and continued the same service for Dr Taufiq Johari, who won the parliamentary seat in the 15th general election.