Selangor Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government launched another people-friendly scheme under the Selangor People-First Economy (MES) programme for the senior citizens in Selangor known as the ‘Jom Shopping’ programme.The event was launched in the Tesco hypermarket in Kuala Selangor on 15 July. 60 senior citizens from the Ijok state constituency (DUN) were given the honour of participating in the inaugural programme. The event was officiated by Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
The ‘Jom Shopping’ programme is a part of the Golden Age Friendly Scheme (SMUE) that was launched by PR in June 2008. SMUE was created to provide benefits for Selangor citizens aged 60 and above in the form of bereavement grants totalling RM 2500 for families of each person that passed away.
In order for the senior citizens who are still alive to be able to enjoy the state’s resources, the state government has provided two facilities, which are the Takaful scheme and now the voucher scheme for shopping (aka Jom Shopping).
Senior citizens who are registered under the SMUE are entitled to receive a shopping voucher worth RM100 that enables them to buy necessities in selected supermarkets. These vouchers are distributed to the various service centres in Selangor and the elected representatives will decide on the dates to bring the senior citizens to do the shopping.
The state government hopes that through this programme, greater rapport and deeper understanding will be fostered amongst the elected representatives and the senior citizens and their family members.
For the Jom Shopping programme, the state government has provided between RM 5 million to RM 10 million, depending on arising necessity. -The Rocket
