Accra:Perak The recent increase in financial aid from RM500 to RM600 per month under Budget 2027 is set to offer more support to families caring for bedridden persons with disabilities and chronically ill patients.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Salbiah Mohamed, chairman of the Perak Women, Family, Social Welfare, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative Committee, expressed her approval of this initiative. She also highlighted other measures in the budget designed to assist women, families, micro, small and medium enterprises, and cooperatives.

Salbiah emphasized the importance of these initiatives reaching their intended recipients and being fully utilized by those eligible. She noted that the increased assistance would help alleviate the financial burden on families, with a focus on enhancing the care economy within households.

During the announcement of Budget 2027, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim revealed that the allocation for assistance to persons with disabilities had been raised to RM1.5 billion, benefiting over 300,000 recipients. He also mentioned that the income eligibility threshold for the PwD worker allowance would increase from RM1,700 to RM2,000.

Discussing the increased maternity leave for civil servants, Salbiah remarked that this change would allow mothers more time for postpartum recovery and childcare. She pointed out that Perak's fertility rate, currently at 1.6 children per woman, is concerning as the state's population continues to age.