FIRE and rescue personnel will be receiving a special allowance of RM200 nationwide come April 1.

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Noh Omar said the RM32 million allocation is a symbol of the government’s appreciation to the force of 13,342.

“Firemen are heroes that we hardly hear of. There were those who lost their lives while carrying out their duty. The allowance is the government’s appreciation for their services to the country,” said Noh.

He said Prime Minister Najib Razak has also approved an allocation to increase the allowance rate for 2,500 auxiliary firemen registered with the Fire and Rescue Department.

“This afternoon, the prime minister has agreed to increased the allowance rate for auxiliary firemen from RM6 to RM8 per hour for members and from RM7.80 to RM9.80 for officers,” said Noh.

The announcement came as the 14th general election draws closer. It is expected before June, although August is the absolute constitutional deadline.

Since the beginning of this year, Najib made several major announcements, promising new projects to boost infrastructures in Langkawi, Kedah, announcing increase of allowances to People Volunteer’s Corp (Rela) members and now the special allowance to fire and rescue department members.

About RM6.3 billion were distributed to millions of low-income citizens as part of a government plan to spur economic growth under the People’s Aid Scheme (BR1M), but critics slammed the move as vote-buying ahead of a general election.

Seven million eligible Malaysians began receiving the first batch of payments early March, with recipients taking home up to RM1,200 this year, a big jump from the RM500 ringgit when the scheme was first launched in 2012.

The handouts were part of a proposed 2018 spending plan of RM280 billion ringgit unveiled by Najib in October, when he announced the country’s largest-ever annual budget. – March 21, 2018.