SHAH ALAM, Malaysia: Female civil servants with the Selangor Government are now entitled to 90 days maternity leave starting this year.

Announcing this yesterday, Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the extra days of leave was part of the state's economic welfare programme.

"Husbands whose wives gave birth will also enjoy a 14-day paternity leave, up from a week previously. Female staff whose husbands pass away, will also get 30 days' leave, compared to three days emergency leave in the past," he told reporters after presenting appointment letters to more than 6,000 village committee members here yesterday.

The Pakatan Rakyat state government had proposed the extra days after it came into power last year.

On another matter, Khalid said Selangor was meeting with various groups, including insurance companies, to work out a plan to help the 300,000 to 400,000 senior citizens in the state to cope with their medical expenses.

Under the programme, senior citizens might only need to pay a maximum of RM5 ($2.08) each time they received treatment from a clinic, he said, adding that the elderly must, however, be registered with the state government to receive the benefit.

Khalid said Selangor would use its over RM50mil revenue from sand mining to fund various "people-centred" activities and welfare programmes, adding that the state planned to introduce a coupon system which allowed for rebates.

Khalid said it was also looking into paying village committee members a work allowance for their activities, work and services, and would appoint more Indian leaders to head committees of villages with many Indian residents.

He said the state had identified about 40 villages to be headed by Indians and their appointment would be made next month. -The Star/ANN