GEORGE TOWN, June 22 — The Kedah state government announced a RM4 million Hari Raya bonus for its civil servants after the state executive council meeting at the Penang Hospital today.

The Kedah mentri besar’s political secretary Datuk Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin said the state exco approved the RM500 bonus for civil servants and RM250 for retired civil servants today.

“The sum was already disbursed with their salary this month,” he said, adding that the bonus was given out as an incentive to the civil servants.

Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah chaired the exco meeting at the intensive care unit in the Penang Hospital this morning.

Shaiful Hazizy said several other matters were also approved during the one-and-half-hour meeting.

“The MB’s office would like to extend its apologies as he could not give a press conference after the doctor advised him to rest,” he said.

Shaiful added that it was normal procedure for the exco to convene at the hospital.

“It shows that even though Ahmad Bashah is in hospital, the state administration continues as normal,” he said.

He said hopefully Ahmad Bashah could be discharged soon.

Ahmad Bashah is recuperating in the ICU after undergoing intestinal surgery here earlier this month.