SHAH ALAM, June 30: The increase of marriage incentives to RM 500 and registration for affordable housing (RMM) schemes are among the attractions offered by the Selangor Government to couples in Selangor who want to get married.
Newlyweds have been asked to register with the State Government so that their joyous event can be celebrated together in addition to receiving incentives through programmes under the Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor (MES) or People’s Economy (loosely translated) agenda.
Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said that the state government at the moment is still giving RM 200 to every bride and groom couple but the amount is to be increased to RM 500.
The raise was promised in the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat manifesto in the 13th General Election (GE-13) last month.
According to Abdul Khalid, registration will enable the State Government to get clear information on the number of marriages that take place in Selangor and this will help with the process of granting MES programmes to those who qualify.
So far, about 25,000 newlyweds have been registered in Selangor since January.
“Among the programmes we are endeavouring is to enter their name into Affordable Homes (RMM) granting programmes so that the selected will own a house if they are under the middle-income category and are permanent residents in Selangor.”
He said this in a press conference after handing over ceremony of the 2013 Youth Marriage Incentives and the Launch of the Youth Website (BES) here in Selangor.
Also present was the Exco for Youth, Sports, Infrastructure and Public Facilities, Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, as well as other State Government Excos such as Dr Halimah Alo and Dr Daroyah Alwi.
A total of 191 newlyweds received the incentive which was presented by the Chief Minister in the ceremony.
Elaborating, Abdul Khalid said that those who have been living in Selangor for at least 15 years can be considered as permanent residents and are eligible to participate in the programme.
He explained that the State Government also plans to increase the incentive from RM 200 to RM 500.
“Apart from that, when we have mass we hold mass wedding celebrations, we will also give a cash prize of RM 100,” he said.
For couple Mohammad Hamdan Mhd Nordin, 28 and Sazalina Mohd Salleh, 25, the State Government’s contribution is an encouraging gift for every bride and groom in Selangor.
“We got married on January 19 this year (and) we are thankful that newlyweds who want to build families are being assisted by the State Government.
“With this encouragement, couples planning weddings need not wait too long,” they said.
Meanwhile, Nicholas Ang, 28 and Cynthia Ng, 28, said that they were excited when they found about the incentives being given by the State Government.
“Weddings now are quite expensive, it is good that incentives such as this can reduce the burden,” said the couple that were married on March 30.
