Showing posts with label Announcements. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Announcements. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

HOW TO MAKE EMERGENCY CALLS AT MALAYSIA

HOW TO MAKE EMERGENCY CALLS AT MALAYSIA

Here is a good chart of emergency call list whether you are making the call via land line and/or mobile/cell/hand phone wherever you are are in Malaysia.

Police / Ambulance Tel: 999 / 112 from a mobile telephone
Fire and Rescue Department (known as Bomba / Fire Brigade) Tel: 994 / 112 from a mobile telephone
Civil Defence Tel: 991
Tourist Police Hotline Tel: 03 2149 6590
Enquiries Tel: 03 2149 6593
National Poison Centre
At
: Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang
Tel: 04 657 0099 (Monday to Friday 08:00-10:00 and 17:00-22-00)
After hours Tel: 012 430 9499
Toll free: 1 800 888 099

Hope that helps!

****Don't dial "999" on your mobile phone, it will not work! Dial "112" *****

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Shoplots to make way for new project

Residents and potential buyers looking to purchase properties or real estate at Teluk Kumbar area, rejoice! 
The new traffic update has been released! 

Follow the article below:

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GEORGE TOWN: About 40 business premises and some residential homes along Jalan Bayan Lepas will soon have to make way for an overhead road project connecting Pekan Bayan Lepas to Teluk Kumbar.
State Works, Utilities and Transportation Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng said the RM207mil Federal project would also affect the Bayan Lepas police station and its quarters, the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) quarters and the Bayan Lepas community hall.

“The project is to upgrade the Federal road from Teluk Kumbar to the Penang International Airport. It’s expected to be completed in August next year,” he said.

The project consists of two overhead bridges – a four-lane, 750m elevated structure from Jalan Teluk Kumbar to the airport and also an elevated U-turn.

It will also see the 3km stretch of the one-lane road from Jalan Teluk Kumbar to Jalan Bayan Lepas upgraded to a two-lane road.

The project is one of four traffic dispersal projects designed to help ease traffic after the second Penang Bridge was opened in in March.

The other three projects are the upgrading of the Bayan Lepas Expressway (BLE) from the bridge exit, upgrading of the state road from Jalan Negeri in Batu Maung to Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah and building a bridge across the Batu Maung junction-cum-roundabout.

It was reported that the total cost of the four projects was RM825mil.

Ng Kok Lam, 52, who owns three bicycle shops on the row of shoplots, welcomed the project as it would reduce the congestion and attract more people to the town.

“But I’m not sure if I will continue to run the business somewhere else or call it a day,” he said.
Ng said he had received his compensation and would need to evict within 30 days.

MCA’s Bayan Lepas branch chairman Ong Hoy Chin, 63, who runs a tailor shop there, said the project was a timely move.

“The number of vehicles here has increased. It could help ease the traffic jam,” he said.
Fabric shop owner Mohamad Sithik Askar, 30, said his business would be affected by the project.
“We’ve been running this business for the past 70 years. Now I’ve to find another place,” he said.

source

Friday, January 2, 2015

RIP QZ8501

It saddens me to announce that , yes it is true..an Air Asia plane QZ8501 crashed at Indonesia
this is during the wake of the recent flooding incidents at Kelantan and other parts of Malaysia too 
Our heart goes out to the victims and their grieving loved ones during these moments...

#StayStrongMalaysia

Friday, April 11, 2014

RE: International arrivals to Penang up more than 8% this year

Better days are coming for the beautiful pearl of the orient: Penang! 
or fondly known as Pulau Pinang in Malay!

Here's why:

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International arrivals to Penang up more than 8% this year
BY LOOI SUE-CHERN
April 10, 2014

 

Penang continues to record encouraging arrival numbers at its international airport this year.

For the first two months of the year, there were over 268,000 domestic arrivals and more than 196,000 international arrivals.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (pic) said compared with last year, the numbers were up 33.4% for domestic arrivals and 8.23% for international arrivals.


He said the numbers should continue to grow with more domestic flights coming into Penang.

"We had 334 domestic flights per week coming to Penang in January but as of last month, we have 341 with seven new AirAsia flights from Miri, Sarawak," he said today.

Lim said there was, however, a decrease in weekly international flights from 211 in January to 210 last month.

This minor drop was due to Indonesian airline Garuda's cancellation of its seven weekly Medan-Penang flights while AirAsia had increased its weekly flights to Singapore from 22 to 28.

Lim said although there are four other flights coming to Penang from Medan, state tourism exco Danny Law Heng Kiang will call a meeting with Garuda and other parties of interest on the matter as Medan visitors are contributors to Penang's medical tourism.

Law said Penang generated RM370 million and RM320 million in revenue last year and in 2012, respectively, from Indonesian visitors seeking medical treatment in Penang.

Indonesian visitor arrivals were viewed seriously, he said.

"We are hoping that this year will record an increase of 10% to 15% in our medical tourism revenue."

The country with the most tourists to Penang is Indonesia, followed by Singapore.

The remaining countries are China, Japan, United States, Taiwan, Australia, United Kingdom, Thailand and India.

Law said Penang will be affected a little by the MH370 incident with a 5% drop in Chinese tourist arrivals.

"But the drop is small. We are lucky that we have a diverse tourist market," he said referring to Chinese tourists cancelling their holidays in Malaysia after the disappearanceof Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 last month.

The flight carried 227 passengers with more than150 of them from China.

The families of the missing passengers were unhappy with how the incident had been handled, sparking outcry and negative sentiments against Malaysia in the republic.

Law said Penang is looking to attract more Middle Eastern and South Korean tourists to the state.

He said Penang will send delegations to take part in tourism roadshows in South Korea and Dubai this and next month.

"Our Middle Eastern tourists used to come during the summer holidays between June and August. But now they come all year round.

"They go to Kuala Lumpur for shopping and Penang for its food and beaches.

"We are looking at how to further promote Penang as a destination of choice to visitors from that region," he said. – April 10, 2014.


Here is the Malay translation:


Pulau Pinang terus mencatat menggalakkan nombor tiba di lapangan terbang antarabangsa pada tahun ini.
Bagi tempoh dua bulan pertama tahun ini , terdapat lebih 268,000 ketibaan dalam negeri dan lebih daripada 196,000 ketibaan antarabangsa .
Ketua Menteri Lim Guan Eng (gambar) berkata, berbanding dengan tahun lepas , nombor naik 33.4 % bagi ketibaan domestik dan 8.23 % bagi ketibaan antarabangsa .

Beliau berkata nombor perlu terus berkembang dengan lebih banyak penerbangan domestik yang datang ke Pulau Pinang.
"Kami mempunyai 334 penerbangan domestik setiap minggu yang akan datang ke Pulau Pinang pada Januari tetapi sehingga bulan lepas , kami mempunyai 341 dengan tujuh penerbangan baru AirAsia dari Miri, Sarawak," katanya hari ini.
Lim berkata , bagaimanapun , penurunan dalam penerbangan antarabangsa seminggu dari 211 pada bulan Januari kepada 210 bulan lepas.
Penurunan kecil adalah disebabkan oleh pembatalan penerbangan Indonesia Garuda tujuh mingguan penerbangan Medan- Pulau Pinang manakala AirAsia meningkat penerbangan mingguannya ke Singapura dari 22 hingga 28.
Lim berkata walaupun terdapat empat penerbangan lain akan datang ke Pulau Pinang dari Medan, exco pelancongan Danny Law Heng Kiang akan memanggil mesyuarat dengan Garuda dan parti-parti lain yang menarik mengenai perkara itu sebagai pelawat Medan adalah penyumbang kepada pelancongan perubatan di Pulau Pinang .
Undang-undang berkata Pulau Pinang dijana RM370 juta dan RM320 juta tahun lepas dan pada tahun 2012 , masing-masing , dari pelawat Indonesia mendapatkan rawatan perubatan di Pulau Pinang.
Ketibaan pelawat Indonesia memandang serius , katanya.
"Kami berharap bahawa tahun ini akan mencatat peningkatan sebanyak 10 % kepada 15 % dalam hasil pelancongan perubatan kita."
Negara dengan pelancong paling ke Pulau Pinang adalah Indonesia, diikuti oleh Singapura.
Negara-negara yang tinggal ialah China, Jepun, Amerika Syarikat , Taiwan, Australia, United Kingdom , Thailand dan India.
Undang-undang berkata Pulau Pinang akan terjejas sedikit dengan kejadian MH370 dengan setitik 5% dalam ketibaan pelancong China .
" Tetapi kejatuhan adalah kecil. Kita bernasib baik bahawa kita mempunyai pasaran pelancong yang pelbagai, " katanya merujuk kepada pelancong China membatalkan cuti mereka di Malaysia selepas disappearanceof Malaysia Airlines penerbangan MH370 itu bulan lepas.
Penerbangan yang dijalankan 227 penumpang dengan than150 lebih daripada mereka dari China.
Keluarga penumpang hilang tidak senang dengan cara kejadian itu telah dikendalikan, mencetuskan bantahan dan negatif sentimen terhadap Malaysia di republik itu.
Undang-undang berkata Pulau Pinang sedang mencari untuk menarik lebih Timur Tengah dan pelancong Korea Selatan ke negeri ini.
Beliau berkata Pulau Pinang akan menghantar delegasi untuk mengambil bahagian dalam pameran bergerak pelancongan di Korea Selatan dan Dubai bulan depan ini dan .
"Pelancong Timur Tengah kami digunakan untuk datang semasa cuti musim panas antara Jun dan Ogos. Tetapi sekarang mereka datang sepanjang tahun.
" Mereka pergi ke Kuala Lumpur untuk membeli-belah dan makanan Pulau Pinang dan pantai .
" Kami sedang mengkaji bagaimana untuk memajukan lagi Pulau Pinang sebagai destinasi pilihan untuk pelancong dari rantau itu," katanya. - April 10, 2014 ....


source

Thursday, March 13, 2014

RE: #PrayForMH370 Live Updates: Police search crew members' homes

The whole country of Malaysia, no correction - the whole world is praying revelation on MAS's missing airplane number MH370.

As of now, credible source yahoo.com paints a whole picture on the latest updates
I'm sharing this so all of us can be up to speed:
----

UPDATE [12.51pm]:  Malaysian police searched the homes of the crew members of flight MH370 as they pursue the sabotage angle, a local Malay-language daily reported. Cops are also checking the background of a passenger of Uighur descent. Full story here.
Meanwhile, a British terror plotter was quoted by the Daily Star as saying he was aware of plans for an 'earlier shoe bomb attack in Malaysia'. Read it here.

UPDATE [12.07pm]: Vietnam says the area where Chinese satellite images show what might be debris from MH370 has been thoroughly searched in recent days. Read it here.

UPDATE [11.17am]:  A senior Chinese aviation official said authorities could not confirm any link between the floating objects captured on Chinese satellite images to MH370. Details here.

UPDATE [9.52am]: Malaysia is sending a search aircraft to the possible crash site identified by a Chinese government website, says an air force official. Full story here.
UPDATE [7.01am]: US satellites have not detected any sign of a mid-air explosion, say American officials. "If they had picked up something (by satellite), our ships would have been sent to that spot." Full story here.

UPDATE [6.15am]: An image taken by a Chinese satellite shows a possible crash site of MH370. Three objects sized 13m x 18m, 14m x 19m and 24m x 22m were spotted in the South China Sea. More here.

UPDATE [3.14am]: A fleet of Earth-monitoring satellites has joined the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. The so-called International Charter on Space and Major Disasters, comprising 15 space agencies or national space institutes, will provide high-resolution images from satellites flying over the location. Full story here.

AFP speaks to experts regarding five possible theories behind the MH370 disappearance. Did the pilot commit suicide? Was there an explosion on board? Did the plane break up in mid air? Answers here.

************************************
What we know as of 1:00am, 13 March 2014:

Search and rescue operations:
1. Search and rescue efforts will still continue, says acting Transport Minister Hishamuddin.
2. Researchers say China missed a chance to use its satellites to find MH370.
3. The search has been expanded into the Andaman Sea, as the air force believes MH370 might have strayed west.
4. Vietnam is scaling back the search for MH370.
5. Malaysia's air force chief denies saying the plane turned back into the Straits of Malacca.
6. The Indian navy has joined in, together with the navy satellite Rukmini or GSAT-7.
7. A crowdsourced initiative to find the MH370 has overloaded the provider’s servers.
8. Searchers describe their efforts as akin to looking for the needle in a haystack.
9. Relatives of passengers are claiming that phones are still ringing when they try calling them.
10. Strange reports have emerged that MH370 was detected at the Straits of Malacca at about 2:40am on Saturday.
11. Vietnamese officials say they are preparing for the worst. However they are widening their search net, and Singapore is set to join the underwater search today.
12. An American satellite imaging company, DigitalGlobe, is getting the public to join the search by analyzing satellite imagery.
13. The search area has expanded to 500,000 square nautical miles (1.7mil sq km), from Sumatra to Hong Kong.
14. The USS Kidd joins the search, with both having Seahawk helicopters designed for search and rescue.
15. A commercial plane from out of Hong Kong reportedly saw several large pieces of debris 60km southeast of Vung Tau, a coastal city in Vietnam.
16. A low-flying plane was allegedly sighted early in the morning of March 8. Authorities refuse to confirm.
17. Malaysian submaries will not be deployed as they are not 'equipped for search and rescue'.
18. Vietnam, China, Singapore, United States, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand and India are assisting in the search.

Investigations still on-going:
1. A lawyer has slammed Malaysia for the ‘misleading information’ on MH370.
2. MAS insists that all planes are ‘airworthy’ despite the Boeing 777 flaw being noted.
3. Under fire by the media, Hishamuddin insists there is no confusion in the MH370 search.
4. A Malaysian minister blamed the media for conflicting statements attributed to the government.
5. A senior MAS executive says there’s no reason to believe this was caused by the crew.
6. The plane sent back two bursts of technical data before vanishing.
7. Legalities and jurisdiction issues are hampering investigations.
8. France is opening a manslaughter investigation into the MH370 disappearance.
9. Police are investigating the matter from four angles: hijacking, sabotage, psychological problems, and personal problems among passengers and crew.
10. The B777-200 aircraft that operated MH207 had undergone maintenance 12 days before the flight. There were no issues.
11. Previously-thought floating debris turns out to becable reel – not adoor or life raft. Analysis of oil slick reveals that it isn't aviation fuel from MH370 , but from ship bunkering activities. More pictures here .
12. Experts are starting to believe the plane veered from its flight path, and could be hundreds of kilometers away.
13. French accident board BEA offers help,citing similarities with the 2009 Air France Flight 447 crash. 14. Boeing’s Airplane Health Management system, which allows real-time plane monitoring, was not installed in the missing flight MH370.
15. No signals were spotted from the plane's Emergency Locator Transmittor (ELT) .
16. A portion of the aircraft wingtip was fixed by Boeing and was certified safe to fly. They dismissed the possibility of a technical problem and any form of threat prior to this.
17. PM Najib said that satelite imagery cannot be used as it cannot detect anything below the water surface.
18. MAS Operations Control Vice President Fuad Sharuji said the aircraft was carrying 7.5 hours of fuel at the time of its disappearance (2.40am).

Situation in Malaysia:
1. MAS denies sending family members of MH370 passengers from Hong Kong to India instead of Malaysia.
2. Year Three students from a rural school made a touching tribute to the passengers on MH370.
3. A local bomoh (shaman) returned for a second try, to the scorn and ridicule of netizens .
4. Malaysians have grown angry over discrepancies and concealed information.
5. MAS is shocked by allegations of questionable behavior of the co-pilot above the MH370.
6. Hoaxers, opportunists and tasteless jokers have come out of the woodworks.
7. Malaysia Airlines will provide a total of 31,000 yuan (RM16,577) to all families of MH370 passengers, and will be flown to the crash site once the location is known.
8. A local bomoh (shaman) and psychic claim to be able to find MH370, and an African televangelist says he predicted this last July.
9. Guo Shaochun, head of a joint working group from the China govt has arrived in KLIA to further assist in the case, as well as the welfare of Chinese families here.
10. Ex-PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad chastises those who are 'playing the blame game' over the MH370 case.
11. Ex-NST head laments 'lax’ security at KLIA, blames third world mentality.
12. The internet is ablaze with concerned netizens and celebrities expressing their views. Hashtags #MH370 and #PrayForMH370 were trending on Twitter.
13. Politician Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin was slammed for an insensitive tweet about a 'new Bermuda triangle'.
14. The DCA Dir-Gen Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said the airport authorities have examined security footage of the passengers and the baggage, and he is satisfied.
15. MAS says all other flights will proceed as usual, for now.

Missing passports and possible terror links:
1. All passengers who checked in for the flight had boarded the plane, dispelling earlier claims that 5 passengers were missing.
2. DCA Dir-Gen denies inconsistencies with police information.
3. The immigration chief insists security SOPs were followed.
4. The two passengers travelling with stolen passports were likely migrants, not terrorists. The first, Pouria Nour Mohammad Mehrdad, 19, had wanted to migrate to Germany. The second is Delavar Syed Mohammad Reza, 30. They had both stayed over at a friend’s house before leaving for MH370.
5. U.S. and European government sources are skeptical that MH370 was the target of an attack..
6. Thailand has been exposed as a crime hub for forged documents.
7. Azharuddin said all cabin baggage on the flight went through security screening, following protocols. MAS also confirms plane security complied with ICAO regulations.
8. Security in Malaysian airports remain the same as the government is not treating this as a security threat yet, despite PM Najib Razak saying KLIA security protocols will be reviewed and improved if necessary. An Immigration Dept source admits “ the SOP does need to be reviewed.”
9. The Chinese Martyr's Brigade claims responsibility, but authorities brush off the ‘unheard-of group’.
10. The Immigration Department is under internal investigation following reports that Italian and Austrian passengers with Asian facial features were allowed to pass through. They had bought their tickets together through an Iranian link.
11. Interpol confirmed that the two missing passports were recorded in its Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database.
12. Malaysia is working with the FBI on possible terror links to the MH370 disappearance.

Analysis, theories, opinions:
1. Here are the key areas of confusion in relation to the missing MH370.
2. CNN laid out four possible scenarios regarding the MH370 disappearance.
3. Authorities are investigating the possibilities of a mid-air disintegration. A video explains the theory further. Radar and transponder information alone would be enough to confirm this theory, says a veteran pilot.
4. Industry experts offer insights into major questions, as well as a detailed analysis of possible reasons behind the MH370 disappearance.
5. An aviation lawyer said that the plane might have broken up due to lack of pressurisation or electrical failure.
6. Retired American Airlines Capt. Jim Tilmon said the route taken by the aircraft had plenty of antennae, radar and radios for contact, and the plane was 'as sophisticated as any commercial airplane could possibly be with an excellent safety record'.
7. The flight was piloted by Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, 53, with total flying hours of 18,365 hours. First officer, Fariq Ab.Hamid, 27, has a total flying hours of 2,763 hours.

Stories surrounding missing passengers:
1. Abdul Hamid Mohd Daud has not given up hope on his son, Fariq, 27, who is the first officer aboard MH370.
2. 38 Malaysians were on-board MH370, including twelve colleagues, a family of three, a couple on honeymoon, a woman who had just celebrated her retirement and about 20 top management staff from Freescale Semiconductor.
3. The niece of Kuching police chief ACP Roslan Bek Ahmad was a passenger on MH370.
4. MH370 Full passenger list here .
Editors's note: The public may contact +603 7884 1234. Next-of-kin may head to the Support Facility Building at KLIA's South Support Zone. For directions, call 03 8787 1269.

source

Thanks yahoo for the updates. May we know more about MH370 soon!

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

RE: Mystery Malaysia MH370 flight may have lost signal, gone hundreds of miles off course (CNN)

We are all very very concern with the latest issue: which is the missing flight of Malaysian Airline MH370. 
While the nation, no the world is praying for it safe return (many have been seen putting up messages on social media network with hash tag #prayforMH370 ) we can't help but wonder what is going on?

This is the most talked about issue now and has  almost completely covered over Anwar Ibrahim and Karpal Singhs case.

Even CNN and conspiracy analysis David Icke is looking deeply into this matter...

I will now be sharing and re-posting some very interesting articles that I have found to be credible to share with you...

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Mystery Malaysia flight may have lost signal, gone hundreds of miles off course
By Greg Botelho. Michael Pearson and Jethro Mullen, CNN
March 12, 2014 -- Updated 0120 GMT (0920 HKT)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: Japan to join 8 other nations in search, ministry says

  • Plane's transponder had stopped, Malaysian Air Force official says
  • Missing flight was way off course, heading in wrong direction, official says
  • Experts unsure on what caused transponder to go off, what it means for plane
(CNN) -- It was 1:30 a.m. when Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 lost all communications, including important transponder signals that send data on altitude, direction and speed. Still, it showed up on radar for about 1 hour, 10 minutes longer -- until it vanished, having apparently moved away from its intended destination, hundreds of miles off course.

Those details -- told to CNN by a senior Malaysian air force official, who declined to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the media -- seemingly shed more light on what happened to the aircraft that mysteriously went missing early Saturday.

But if these assertions are true -- and other reports, citing a different Malaysian official, cast doubt on them -- many big questions remain. Why were the communications lost? Why was the Boeing 777 going the direction it was? And where did it end up?

"Something happened to that airplane, that was obviously out of the norm, that caused it to depart from its normal flight path," said Mark Weiss, a former 777 pilot now with the Washington-based Spectrum Group consulting firm. "... It's difficult not to speculate."

Peter Goelz, former managing director of the National Transportation Safety Board, thinks all this information -- if correct -- ominously suggests that someone purposefully cut off the transponder and steered the plane from its intended destination.

"This kind of deviation in course is simply inexplicable," said Goelz.
Other experts aren't convinced that there were bad actors -- be they hijackers or an ill-intentioned crew member. They say there could have been some sort of sudden catastrophic electronic failure or more that spurred the crew to try to turn around, with no luck.

"Perhaps there was a power problem," said veteran pilot Kit Darby, former president of Aviation Information Resources, adding that backup power systems would only last about an hour. "(It is) natural for the pilot, in my view, to return to where he knows the airports."

Still, while they have theories, even those who have piloted massive commercial airliners like this one admit that they can't conclude anything until the plane is found. For now, the massive multinational search has yielded no breakthrough -- which has only added to the heartache for the friends and family of the 239 passengers and crew on board.

The Malaysian air force official's revelations may provide more direction, though clarity and closure are still elusive.

"There are still as many possibilities out there, maybe more, now that we know about the transponders being off and the length of time that plane flew in the air without them," said CNN law enforcement analyst Tom Fuentes. "It still leaves mechanical, terrorism (and) other issues as much in the air as they were before."

Intentional or catastrophic mechanical failure?

According to the Malaysian air force official, the plane's transponder apparently stopped working at about the time flight controllers lost contact with it, near the coast of Vietnam.

The air force eventually and totally lost track of the plane over Pulau Perak, a tiny island in the Strait of Malacca -- many hundreds of miles from the usual flight path for aircraft traveling between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing, the official said.
If the data cited by the source is correct, the aircraft was flying away from Beijing and on the opposite side of the Malay Peninsula from its scheduled route.
Why would the transponder -- an electrical instrument in commercial airline cockpits that continuously transmits information such as altitude, location, direction and speed -- have gone off?

Goelz, the former NTSB managing director, and others point out the only reason for someone to intentionally turn off the transponder is to conceal the plane's location and direction. Someone with nefarious intentions of taking over an aircraft and steering it to where it wasn't supposed to be -- or perhaps planning on crashing it -- might do just that.

"You have to have a very deliberate process to turn the transponder off," he said. "... There might still be mechanical explanations on what was going on, but those mechanical explanations are narrowing quickly."

Anthony Roman, a trained pilot and consultant, said that a fast-moving fire might have moved through the cockpit and rendered everything, including the crew, effectively powerless to do much more than turn the plane around.
"Fires are insidious," Roman told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "They can happen quickly and knock out multiple systems quickly."

Darby, for one, believes purely mechanical issues remain the most valid possibility now. His main point is: "Everything is electrical." In other words, if there's some sort of "catastrophic failure" for whatever reason, that could knock out systems like the transponder.
If that would happen, the plane could fly for some time without electricity but not indefinitely. Any attempts to steer it would be harder in the dark without functioning flight instruments said Darby, a retired United captain.



Questions swirl after airliner vanishes
Whether the air force official's account is true, that possibility and others make the mystery more and more confounding.
"You couldn't make this story up," said Michael Goldfarb, a former official with the Federal Aviation Administration.


Terrorism a possibility
Authorities have said they're looking at all possibilities to explain what happened to the Malaysia Airlines aircraft.

Earlier Tuesday, the head of the international police organization Interpol said that his agency increasingly believed the incident was not related to terrorism.
"The more information we get, the more we're inclined to conclude that it was not a terrorist incident," Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble said at a news conference in Lyon, France.

Yet -- speaking Tuesday about what he called a "very disturbing mystery" -- CIA Director John Brennan insisted terrorism remains a possibility.
"I don't know (what happened)," he said. "But I don't think people should, at this point, rule out any of these lines of inquiry."

The two passengers who have dominated headlines the last two days entered Malaysia using valid Iranian passports, Noble said. But they used stolen Austrian and Italian passports to board the missing Malaysian plane, he said.
Noble gave their names and ages as Pouri Nourmohammadi, 18, and Delavar Seyed Mohammad Reza, 29.

Malaysian police had earlier identified Nourmohammadi, using a slightly different name and age, and said they believed he was trying to migrate to Germany.
Inspector General Khalid Abu Bakar of the Royal Malaysian Police said it doesn't appear the younger Iranian posed a threat.

"We have been checking his background," Khalid said, noting "other police organizations" have been consulted. "And we believe that he is not likely to be a member of any terrorist group," Khalid said.

After he failed to arrive in Frankfurt, the final destination of his ticket, his mother contacted authorities, Khalid said. According to ticketing records, the ticket to Frankfurt was booked under the stolen Austrian passport.

Extensive search for plane

No one knows where these two men and the other 237 people on the plane ended up. Every lead that has raised hopes of tracing the commercial jet has so far petered out.

Over the past few days, search teams have been scouring tens of thousands of square miles of sea between the northeast coast of Malaysia and southwest Vietnam. They have also been searching off the west coast of the Malay Peninsula, in the Strait of Malacca, and north into the Andaman Sea.
The search also encompasses the land in between the two areas of sea.
But it could be days, weeks or even months before the searchers find anything that begins to explain what happened to the plane, which disappeared early Saturday en route to Beijing.

In the case of Air France Flight 447, which disappeared over the Atlantic in 2009, it took five days just to find the first floating wreckage.
And it was nearly two years before investigators found the bulk of the French plane's wreckage and the majority of the bodies of the 228 people on board, about 12,000 feet below the surface of the ocean.

The Gulf of Thailand, the area where the missing Malaysian plane was last detected, is much shallower, with a maximum depth of only 260 feet and an average depth of about 150 feet.

Still, they have to find it first. The newly disclosed revelation about the plane's direction doesn't help, as it means less certainty and more time for currents to move the wreckage around.

"Crucial time is passing," David Gallo, with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Monday. "That search area -- that haystack -- is getting bigger and bigger and bigger."


New details fuel missing flight theories

Men with stolen passports identified

Counties that are taking part in the search 
  1. Thailand, 
  2. Singapore, 
  3. Indonesia, 
  4. Vietnam, 
  5. Australia, 
  6. the United States, 
  7. China and 
  8. Malaysia 
 are all taking part in the search, White House spokesman Jay Carney said. Japan has also dispatched a team to the area, with Japanese military and coast guard crews likely to follow, its foreign ministry announced Wednesday.
 
That helps takes all forms, such as many as 10 Chinese satellites monitoring the area to the helicopters ready-to-dispatch off of U.S. warships.

CNN aviation correspondent Richard Quest described the search as "extremely painstaking work," suggesting a grid would have been drawn over the ocean for teams to comb, bit by bit.

Quest said that the expanding search area shows how little idea rescue officials have of where the plane might be. But he's still confident they'll find it eventually.

"It's not hopeless, by any means. They will find it," he said. "They have to. They have to know what happened."

Until they do, patience is growing thin for friends and family members of those aboard Flight 370.

As a middle-aged man -- the father of one such passenger -- shouted Tuesday at an airline agent in Beijing: "Time is passing by."

source
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We are praying for you MH370!
#prayforMH370 

Sunday, March 9, 2014

MH370: Missing

Dear all,

It's a shocking day for Malaysia indeed..
one of our airplane under MAS (Malaysian Airlines) MH370 has been declared missing

There are many "latest" news and circulations going around that the plan is safe and found - that it had landed in Naning and the emergency search is called off. That my friends, was what I believed at first until I was tild that it was hoax and a rumor that was spreading around.
That is untrue and up to now, we still do not know what has actually taken place..

there are many stories of magical dissaperance, something like the bermuda triangle case
and then, there's another rumor of a terrorist attack, where some fake passports were uncovered
there was also another instance of an alien attack or something

Well, whatever it is..this is certainly no laughing matter..

I felt really sad and sorry when I heard this..This is really shocking and my heart goes out to the family

Here is what we do know (thanks to Hitz.fm that updated us on the findings on their Facebook status post)

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Excerpts from the press conference that just happened moments ago at KLIA:

1. The area for search and rescue has been widened to include all waters, including the East & West Coast of Malaysia

2. This is following the Air Force and DCA search & rescue standard operating procedure

3. It has happened at sea between Vietnam and Malaysia. If Malaysia needs help from Indonesia, we will ask for it

4. The US authority has provided an aircraft to assist the search

5. Nothing confirmed off the coast of Vietnam, search continues throughout the night

6. Night search will be done by aircraft that has special night capabilities; it is not easy but possible; "it is our commitment that the search would go around the clock"

7. No news of the alleged stolen passport as reported by Italian media

8. They have re-looked at the recordings and CCTV of baggage of passengers

9. On possibility of terrorism? MAS CEO: "We are not ruling out anything"

‪#‎PrayForMH370‬ ‪#‎AstroAwani‬
Excerpts from the press conference that just happened moments ago at KLIA:

1. The area for search and rescue has been widened to include all waters, including the East & West Coast of Malaysia

2. This is following the Air Force and DCA search & rescue standard operating procedure

3. It has happened at sea between Vietnam and Malaysia. If Malaysia needs help from Indonesia, we will ask for it

4. The US authority has provided an aircraft to assist the search

5. Nothing confirmed off the coast of Vietnam, search continues throughout the night

6. Night search will be done by aircraft that has special night capabilities; it is not easy but possible; "it is our commitment that the search would go around the clock"

7. No news of the alleged stolen passport as reported by Italian media

8. They have re-looked at the recordings and CCTV of baggage of passengers

9. On possibility of terrorism? MAS CEO: "We are not ruling out anything"

#PrayForMH370 #AstroAwani

Lets keep praying guys!
Although we cannot do much, but we can still keep them in our prayer and support them in our thoughts and words.

Hoping for more news and updates on this matter soon

Monday, March 3, 2014

Penang: Apply for licence or pay RM100 fine, dog owners told

Do you love animals? Do you have a pet or looking to own on in Penang?
Have you gotten your license yet?
Please check out the latest update on keeping pets in Penang
It's very important to know 

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dogs, pets, puppy, penang
DOG owners in Penang must now apply for a licence for their pets or face a RM100 fine. 

Penang Municipal Council public health and licensing alternate chairman Ong Ah Teong said it was an existing by-law (Dogs) Penang Municipal Council 1977 but the council was only enforcing it now.
“Previously it was an open compound without a fixed amount (no amount was stated but the amount cannot exceed RM250) but the council’s legal advisors and various relevant department heads agreed to set the fine at RM100. 

“Dog owners will be fined that amount if their pets are found without a badge on their collars. The licence fee is only RM10 which must be paid annually,” he told reporters after a full council meeting at the City Hall yesterday. 

Ong added that enforcement would be effective yesterday and would be carried out by the council’s veterinary unit officers. 

On Sunday, a retiree received 28 stitches for injuries to her head, arm and thigh after she was attacked by a neighbour’s dog. 

The canine pounced on Badriah Hanani Abu Bakar, 53, and sunk its teeth into her thigh, ripping off part of her pants. She then fell to the ground and hit her head hard, causing profuse bleeding.
The dog, which allegedly bolted out of the house when the gates were opened, went on to bite her before the owner rushed out to grab it.

source

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Real Estate: Penang to enforce new housing rules

Whats new with Penang housing laws and updates?
Here is an update that I recently stumbled upon

Well, to me I say: Kudos to the gomen for implementing these rules
Penang will see more stable property/ real estate growth in the near future because of this
Sure...there are some angry speculators but hey, you can't please all right?
 
Don't burn the whole forest just because you want a tree - think of others too!

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The state of Penang is set to enforce new housing regulations on the proposed date of February 1, 2014.
At its core, the new regulation is designed to minimise speculation in the state’s property market and to ensure public housing and affordable homes are accessible to low and middle-income first-time home buyers.

The new regulation affects citizens and non-citizens buying low cost homes (up to RM42,000), low-medium cost homes (up to RM72,500), affordable homes on the island (below RM400,000), and affordable homes on the mainland (below RM250,000) and covers all past and future purchases.
Our infographic below illustrates the new housing regulation and restrictions imposed on home buyers.

iris (1)
Homeowners who wish to sell their house within the 5 or 10-year lock-in period must first make an appeal to the state government. Additionally, these houses can only be sold to “listed buyers” which are certified middle-income individuals registered with the state government’s Housing Department.


source: http://www.imoney.my/articles/penang-new-housing-rules

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Instapics for you!

Hey guys!

Its been a while since I posted up any of my instagram photos. All these photos were shot by yours truly ;)

Also, a very happy and prosperous Chinese New Year to you and your family! May the good Lord bless you this year and may the year of the horse bring you much blessings!

Here are some of my shots..enjoy!

Monday, October 28, 2013

Special: Budget 2014: Full text of Prime Minister's speech

Hey guys!

Managed to scoop up the FULL List for Budget Malaysia 2014. 

I got it from the star's online portal but I thought of you and how you can read it here at your convenience :)

Here's the scoop:

Budget 2014: Full text of Prime Minister's speech




KUALA LUMPUR: The following is the 2014 Budget Speech tabled by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the Dewan Rakyat Friday.

The text of the speech will be updated as it progresses.

"STRENGTHENING ECONOMIC RESILIENCE, ACCELERATING TRANSFORMATION AND FULFILLING PROMISES" 

Mr. Speaker Sir,

I beg to move the Bill intituled "An Act to apply a sum from the Consolidated Fund for the service of the year 2014 and to appropriate that sum for the service of that year" be read a second time.

Mr. Speaker Sir,  

I begin the 2014 Budget Speech by reciting the holy kalimah Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Surah al-Qasas from the holy Quran, verse 77 says, "But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you;"

Philosophers often say:
"Unity is the beginning, staying united reflects progress while working together is the recipe for success."
1.Let us begin by expressing our gratitude to Allah Subhanahu Wa Taala for with His Blessings, my colleagues and I are able to gather in this august House, a symbol of our vibrant democracy in our sovereign and independent nation.

2.On behalf of the Government, I would like to record our highest appreciation and thank the rakyat for supporting and giving the mandate to Barisan Nasional in the 13th General Election to continue to lead the country.

Mr. Speaker Sir, 

3.This proves that though faced with various obstacles and challenges as well as allegations hurled at us, with God's grace and the transformative leadership of Barisan Nasional, we prevailed and continue to be resilient and strong as the party chosen by the rakyat for the next five years.

4. Indeed, we went through a challenging General Election. We take pride that we observed all the rules and regulations in the true spirit of democracy as provided for under the Federal Constitution. This election has been acknowledged by friend and foe alike as the mother of all elections.

Mr. Speaker Sir, 

5. The Government is certainly aware that in an environment of global political and economic uncertainties, and if we are not vigilant, we will be adversely affected. Hence, we are most grateful that our nation has not been dragged into civil unrest which can destroy the country.

6. We are also grateful that our nation remains blessed, as we are free from natural calamities unlike in other countries. We pray that we are always protected by Him.

Mr. Speaker Sir,

7. We have implemented 10 Malaysia Plans and 3 Outline Perspective Plans, since 1965 to 2010. 

8. The National Development Policy was implemented from 1991 to 2000. Next came the National Vision Policy which spanned the period from 2001 to 2010. When tabling the 2010 Budget, I launched the National Transformation Policy, the bedrock and catalyst towards achieving Vision 2020. 

9. I must stress explicitly that all these plans would not have been realised without careful planning and clear strategies by the Government. In fact, for decades the Barisan Nasional Government has taken relentless efforts to develop the nation from an agriculture-base to a modern industrial economy and further grow to upper middle-income status. We are now poised to become a high-income and developed nation.

Mr. Speaker Sir,

10. On 14 September 2013, I presented the Agenda on Bumiputera Economic Empowerment at the Dewan Agong Tuanku Cancelor in the main campus of UiTM. In my speech, I explained the demographics of the nation, particularly in relation to the Malays and Bumiputeras.

Mr. Speaker Sir,

11. Currently, the demographics beginning from Arau, Perlis to Kudat and Tawau in Sabah, through Bintulu and Batang Ai, Sarawak, indicate that Malays comprise 41 subgroups within nine major groups, Chinese 10 subgroups, Indians eight subgroups, Orang Asli 18 categories, Bumiputera Sabah more than 60 ethnic groups and in Sarawak, more than 40 subgroups. 

12. The truth is, irrespective of whether we are Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Murut, Dusun, Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, Orang Asli, Sikhs, Eurasians, Siamese, Baba Nyonya and Chitty, we are all Malaysians. Every ethnic or subgroup irrespective of numbers is important in our journey towards success.

Mr. Speaker Sir,

13. According to the 2010 Population and Housing Census, estimates for 2013 indicate that there are 18.6 million Malays and Bumiputera (67.9% of total population) including Muslims and non-Muslims, Chinese, 6.6 million (24%)
Indians, 2 million (7.2%), while there are 259,000 (0.9%) people of other ethnic groups (0.9%). This means there are about 27.4 million Malaysian citizens. 

14. However, this does not include the 40,000 Bangladeshis who were brought in as phantom voters in the recent 13th General Election as alleged by the Opposition. Till today no one has even seen them or their shadow. Enough of lies. Ask for forgiveness from Him.

Mr. Speaker Sir,

15. Indeed, for more than five decades, there has been an agreement forged by our former leaders in full wisdom and knowledge, supported by statistical evidence and our multiracial society. Therefore based on the solid premise, we present you this important document. 

16. As in previous years, the tabling of this document of national importance falls on a Friday afternoon, a blessed day. This is the first Budget to be presented by the Barisan Nasional Government, after gaining the trust and confidence of the rakyat, once again. This is also my fifth budget as the Minister of Finance since 2009. 

2014 BUDGET THRUSTS 

17.The 2014 Budget is formulated to ensure that the economy continues to expand at a strong pace, and to reduce the fiscal deficit, with the overall objective of prospering the nation and promoting the well-being of the rakyat. 

Towards this, the 2014 Budget is formulating based on the theme 

"Strengthening Economic Resilience, Accelerating Transformation And Fulfilling Promises", outlining five main thrusts:

  1. First Thrust: Invigorating Economic Activity
  2. Second Thrust: Strengthening Fiscal Management
  3. Third Thrust: Inculcating Excellence in Human Capital
  4. Fourth Thrust: Intensifying Urban and Rural Development
  5. Fifth Thrust: Ensuring Well-Being of the Rakyat 

2013 ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND 2014 PROSPECTS 

18. Allow me to highlight the current global and domestic economic prospects. The global economy is expected to grow at a slower pace of 2.9% in 2013. As a highly open economy, Malaysia is not spared from the modest growth. Nevertheless, the country's strong economic fundamentals and accommodative monetary policy will enable us to grow at a sustainable pace. In fact, the economy grew 4.2% in the first half of 2013. 

19. Economic indicators reflect trends that support growth. For example, the FBMKLCI reached 1,818 points on 24 October 2013, with market capitalisation of RM1.66 trillion, a new record high in terms of level and value. This underscores the increasing local and foreign investors' confidence in the economy. 

20. Net foreign direct investment was higher at RM18.2bil in the first half of 2013 compared with RM15.9bil during the same period in 2012. International reserves remained strong at RM444.9bil at 14 October 2013, sufficient to finance 9.7 months of retained imports and is 3.9 times the short-term external debt. 

21. For the whole of 2013, the domestic economy is expected to expand between 4.5% and 5%. Growth is supported by private investment, increasing 16.2% to an estimated RM165bil. In addition, private and public consumption are expected to grow 7.4% and 7.3%, respectively mainly supported by strong domestic economic activity. 

22. In 2014, in tandem with an improved global economic outlook, the domestic economy is projected to grow at a stronger pace of 5% to 5.5%. Growth will be driven by private investment expanding 12.7%, and private consumption at 6.2%. 

23. Exports of goods are expected to grow 2.5% due to improving external demand. On the supply side, the construction sector is expected to grow 9.6%, followed by the services sector at 5.7%. The unemployment rate is estimated at 3.1% while the inflation rate will remain low between 2% and 3%. 

24. The per capita income for 2014 is expected to reach RM34,126 compared with RM24,879 in 2009, an increase of 37% over 6 years. In this regard, we are confident of achieving the target per capita income of RM46,500 or USD15,000 in 2020. It is even possible that we will achieve developed nation status much earlier than 2020.

2014 BUDGET ALLOCATION

25. The 2014 Budget will allocate a total of RM264.2bil to implement programmes and projects for the well-being of the rakyat and national development. Of this amount, RM217.7bil is for Operating Expenditure while RM46.5bil for Development Expenditure.

26. Under Operating Expenditure, RM63.6bil is allocated for Emoluments and RM36.6bil for Supplies and Services. Meanwhile, RM114.5bil is allocated for Fixed Charges and Grants, while RM1.4bil is for the Purchase of Assets. The remaining RM1.5bil is for Other Expenditures. 

27. From the Development Expenditure of RM46.5bil, a sum of RM29bil is allocated to the economic sector. A sum of RM10.5bil is allocated to the social sector for education and training, health, welfare, housing and community development. In addition, RM3.9bil is allocated to the security sector. The balance of RM1.1bil is for general administration and RM2bil for contingencies. 

28. In 2014, the Federal Government revenue collection is estimated at RM224.1bil, an increase of RM4bil from 2013. Taking into account the estimated revenue and expenditure, the Federal Government fiscal deficit will further decline from 4% of GDP in 2013 to 3.5% in 2014. This clearly indicates the Government's commitment towards fiscal consolidation to further strengthen the financial position of the nation. 

29. Taking into account the current international and domestic economic environment, I will now present the five thrusts which will be the basis of the 2014 Budget.

FIRST THRUST: INVIGORATING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY 

http://sana.sy/servers/gallery/201306/20130622-183644.jpg

30. The Government will continue to provide a conducive environment to attract more domestic and foreign investment. The Government's efforts have led to an increase in private investment. For example, the share of private investment to GDP has grown from 12.4% in 2010 to 16.7% currently. 

31. In 2014, private investment is expected to increase further to RM189bil or 17.9% of GDP, particularly in oil and gas, textile industry, transport equipment and real estate development. 

32. Public investment is estimated to reach RM106bil. Projects to be implemented include construction of the 316km West Coast Expressway from Banting to Taiping as well as double-tracking projects from Ipoh to Padang Besar, and later from Gemas to Johor Bahru.

33. In the oil and gas sector, among projects to be undertaken by Petronas include the Sabah Ammonia Urea Project (SAMUR) in Sipitang; the integrated oil and gas production development project in Kebabangan; the regasification plant project in Lahad Datu, Sabah; and RAPID in Pengerang, Johor, which is the largest investment in Malaysia. 

34. The Government will continue to encourage investments in the five regional economic corridors by providing basic infrastructure and implementing high-impact projects. As at end-2012, investments worth RM124bil or 41% of the total committed investments were realised in the regional corridors. 

35. In the first nine months of 2013, the regional corridors attracted committed investments of RM53.4bil with almost 50% realised. Among the important projects in Iskandar Region are Pinewood Studio, Gleneagles Medini Hospital and Pegasus International School. In addition, sewerage and flood mitigation projects will be carried out. 

36. In 2014, the Government will allocate RM1.6bil for development in the five regional corridors. Among the main projects to be implemented include the agropolitan project and oil palm-based industries in the Sabah Development Corridor as well as Samalaju Industrial Park and a halal hub in the Sarawak Regional Corridor. 

37. Meanwhile, in the East Coast Corridor, Kuantan Port will be expanded. An integrated petrochemical complex will be built in Gebeng and Kertih. In the Northern Corridor, the main projects include planting of commercial crops and fertigation system. 

Invigorating Services Sector 

38. The services sector is the key contributor to economic growth and has huge potential for further development. The sector's contribution to GDP has increased from 49.3% in 2000 to 55% in 2013. To further promote growth in the sector, the Government will launch the Services Sector Blueprint in 2014 which outlines strategies and measures as well as identifies the following potential subsectors to be developed.

Logistics Sector

39. Malaysia is currently ranked 29th in the World Bank Logistics Performance Index Report 2012. The Index benchmarks the performance of logistics activities, including shipping, infrastructure, timeliness, customs clearance and competencies. Though lagging behind developed nations, our performance can be improved. 

40. To ensure a more efficient logistics sector, the Government will formulate a Logistics Sector Master Plan. The Plan will provide the strategic direction for the development of logistics infrastructure and supply chain as well as review regulations and laws. In addition, the Government will allocate RM3bil in soft loans under the Maritime Development Fund through Bank Pembangunan Malaysia. The Fund will provide financing to encourage the development of the shipping industry, shipyard construction, oil and gas as well as maritime-related support activities. 

Promoting Aviation Industry 

41. Malaysia has potential to be an aviation hub in the region. The industry will have a multiplier effect on the economy in line with growing demand for passengers and air cargo. For the period January to July 2013, passenger traffic at airports nationwide increased to 43.9 million from 38.6 million passengers during the same period in 2012. 

42. Total air cargo handled increased to 529,000 tonnes during the first seven months of 2013. When KLIA 2 is operational, passenger traffic is expected to increase to more than 70 million. To further develop the industry, the Government will formulate a National Aviation Policy, which will outline measures to strengthen the ecosystem and services network in the aviation industry. 

43. To improve operations management and air traffic control, the Government will replace the existing air traffic control management system in Subang that is almost 20 years old. A new air traffic management centre costing RM700mil will be built at KLIA. The new system will facilitate an increase in air traffic from 68 to 108 movements per hour on three runways. This will be among the highest capacity in handling air traffic worldwide. 

44. To increase passenger comfort, the Government will upgrade several airports, such as Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan in Sabah as well as Miri, Sibu and Mukah in Sarawak. For this, the Government will allocate RM312mil. In addition, the passenger terminals in Langkawi International Airport and Kuantan Airport will be upgraded. 

Promoting Tourism Sector 

45. In 2013, the tourism sector is expected to generate revenue of RM65bil and has the potential to contribute further. In 2012, Malaysia attracted 25 million tourists. In view of the encouraging performance, 2014 has been declared Visit Malaysia Year (VMY), targeting 28 million tourists. 

46. To implement the VMY programmes, the Government will allocate RM1.2bil for operating and development expenditure in 2013 and 2014, including for promotion and advertising. 

47. In continuous efforts to attract more tourists, I am pleased to announce 2015 as the Year of Festivals. In this regard, we will organise and showcase a variety of cultural programmes and festivals in the country. 

48. Malaysia is among the preferred tourist destinations for shopping. According to the Globe Shopper Index 2012 and CNN Travel 2013 Report, Kuala Lumpur is ranked the 4th most popular city in the world for shopping after New York, Tokyo and London. 

49. To further promote Malaysia as a preferred tourist destination, the Government will continue to encourage investments particularly in new 4 and 5-star hotels. The measure will ensure adequate supply of international standard accommodation and increase tourist arrivals, especially from the luxury and high-spending category. To support this, the Government proposes the application period for Pioneer Status and Investment Tax Allowance incentives be extended for another three years until 31 December 2016.

50. To further promote the tourism industry, a sum of RM2bil will be provided to the Special Tourism Infrastructure Fund under Bank Pembangunan Malaysia. The Fund will provide soft loans at low interest rates between 4% and 6%, with the Government providing a subsidy of 2%. The Fund will be used to finance the cost of building infrastructure such as hotels, resorts and theme parks as well as purchase and replacement of equipment related to the tourism sector. 

Expanding Internet Access

51. In a borderless world, information can be obtained instantaneously. Therefore the requisite infrastructure will be upgraded to meet consumer demand. Hence, the Government has implemented the High-Speed Broadband (HSBB) project under the National Broadband Initiative. 

52. The collaboration with the private sector has involved investment of RM11.3bil since the 9th Malaysia Plan. The HSBB project has been implemented with Internet access speed of 4 megabits per second (Mbps) and benefiting 2.3 million premises, particularly in urban areas. 

53. To expand coverage in major towns, the Government will implement the second phase of HSBB project in collaboration with the private sector involving an investment of RM1.8bil. The initiative is expected to provide additional coverage and facilities mainly in urban areas, benefiting 2.8 million households nationwide. The Internet speed will be increased to 10 Mbps.

54. The HSBB network will be expanded to suburban areas with an Internet access speed increasing to between 4 and 10 Mbps, which will benefit 2 million consumers at a cost of RM1.6bil. 

55. To increase Internet coverage in rural areas, 1,000 telecommunication transmission towers will be built over the next three years, with an investment of RM1.5bil. To increase Internet access in Sabah and Sarawak, new underwater cables will be laid within three years, at a cost of RM850mil. These investments will utilise the Universal Services Provision Fund, which is under the purview of the Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission. 

Strengthening Financial Market 

56.Currently, the domestic bond market is the largest in South-East Asia with a value exceeding RM1 trillion, while daily transactions in the foreign exchange and money markets are more than RM30bil. To ensure efficient operations of financial markets, a clear regulatory framework is required. 

57. In this regard, amendments will be made to existing laws and Bank Negara Malaysia will lead the initiative in formulating the Netting Act to protect enforcement rights of "close-out netting" under the financial contract. This is to reduce credit risk and promote the derivatives market, thereby reducing systemic risks in the domestic financial market as well as reduce the cost of doing business. 

58. Malaysia's position as a leader in the Islamic capital market is an advantage in attracting funds and issuance of securities. To enhance global competitiveness, efforts will be intensified to promote Malaysia as a market for Social Responsible Investment (SRI). 

59. Among the measures which will be implemented include introducing the Environmental, Social and Governance Index (ESG) to raise the profile of listed companies which have high socially responsible practices. 

60. The Securities Commission will introduce the Framework of Socially Responsible Sukuk Instrument or SRI Sukuk to finance various sustainable and responsible investment initiatives. In addition, the Government will establish a SRI Fund to be invested in listed companies which demonstrate high accountability, transparency and sustainability, including inclusiveness in diversity encompassing gender, age and ethnicity. 

61. For a start, Valuecap will allocate RM1bil to invest in companies that score high on the ESG Index. I trust this will encourage more companies to show high commitment towards social responsibility.

Pension Scheme

62. In 2010, the Government established the 1Malaysia Pension Scheme (SP1M), for the self-employed without fixed income to contribute voluntarily to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF). To date, about 66,000 contributors have participated in the scheme with total savings exceeding RM240mil.

63. To encourage more people to participate in the scheme, I propose that the Government increases its contribution from 5% to 10%, or from a maximum of RM60 to RM120 per year. This will be effective from 1 January 2014 to end-2017 and is expected to attract 30,000 new contributors.

64. The Government recognises the importance of savings from an early age to ensure sufficient savings after retirement. To further increase savings, the Government encourages youth to undertake long-term investment through the Private Retirement Scheme (PRS).

65. Towards this, the Government proposes a one-off incentive of RM500 to contributors who participate in the PRS scheme with a minimum cumulative investment of RM1,000 within a year. The incentive, which is available for individuals aged between 20 and 30 years, is expected to attract 420,000 youth contributors nationwide. The incentive will be implemented from 1 January 2014, for a period of 5 years, involving an allocation of RM210mil.
Moving Up the Value Chain in Agriculture Sector

66. According to an old proverb, if you work on the land diligently, you will reap the harvest. As such, agriculture is always included in the annual budget.

67. An allocation of RM6bil will be provided for the implementation of high value-added and commercially viable agriculture programmes. Among the main initiatives are as follows:

  1. First: Establish the Food and Agro Council for Export (FACE) which will be chaired by the Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry. The Council will act as a facilitator to increase exports of local agriculture produce;
  2. Second: Strengthen FAMA to play a more strategic role, in line with the concept of “from farm to export market”. For instance, FAMA will organise an Agro Bazaar in Singapore; and In line with the high price and demand for durians, we will increase exports to China. To ensure that agriculture produce remains fresh, the Government will provide cold room facilities in KLIA. In addition to increasing exports, this will give higher return to farmers;
  3. Third: Ensure fair prices of food products by opening an additional 60 farmers’ markets, 50 fish markets, 50 agriculture caravans as well as 100 fresh fruit stalls nationwide. The initiative to be undertaken by FAMA and LKIM will provide facilities to traders to sell food products directly to consumers.
68. The Government will allocate a sum of RM2.4bil for subsidies and incentives, including subsidies for fertilisers, seeds, price of paddy and rice as well as incentives for higher production of paddy and fish landing. In addition, the Government will allocate RM243mil for the replanting programme of rubber, palm oil and cocoa as well as forest plantation programme.

69. To increase productivity as well as to promote agriculture produce with high demand, the Government will allocate RM634mil under the National Key Economic Area. Among the projects include paddy and fish cage farming, seaweed and birds’ nest, high-value herbs, vegetables and fruits for the export market.

70. The Government will also implement a lobster rearing project at Semporna, Sabah in collaboration with a multinational company to produce 18,000 metric tonnes yearly which will create 20,000 jobs. The project is expected to benefit more than 6,000 local entrepreneurs and increase their monthly income up to RM4,000 over the long term.

71. To increase competitiveness and the contribution of Bioeconomy to economic growth, the Government will implement the Bioeconomy Community Development programme. Under the programme, idle lands will be developed through the application of biotechnology as well as for contract farming to increase the value-added of the agro-based industry and income of farmers.

72. Recognising the importance of research and development (R&D) for the development of Bioeconomy, the Government will provide the following R&D incentives for viable projects which will be assessed by BiotechCorp:

  1. First: Tax deduction for companies that invest to acquire technology platform in bio-based industry;
  2. Second: Exemption on import duty on R&D equipment for companies that invest in pilot plants for the purpose of pre-commercialisation in Malaysia; and 
  3. Third: Special incentive to companies to partially cover the operational cost for human capital development for Centre of Excellence for R&D. 
The incentives are for applications received by Biotech Corp from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2018.

Entrepreneur Development

73. According to Hadith, out of ten parts, nine parts of one’s sustenance is in business. In this respect, we will train and nurture more young entrepreneurs so that they will become successful businessmen. Thus, the Government is committed to ensuring that entrepreneur development remains a key element in generating economic growth.

74. An entrepreneur development plan will be formulated to provide a conducive ecosystem which emphasises the generation of ideas which can be commercialised, infrastructure for training and incubators, entrepreneurship modules, financing facilities as well as marketing. To formulate the entrepreneur development plan, an entity called the National Entrepreneur Development Office will be established under the National Strategy Unit, Ministry of Finance which will plan and coordinate all activities related to entrepreneurship.

75. During the recent 4th Global Entrepreneurship Summit, I had announced the establishment of the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (MaGIC), a one-stop centre to empower entrepreneurs. MaGIC will monitor the performance of entrepreneurs; house an integrated database; provide incubators; registration and patenting of intellectual property; funding facilities; business matching process; and guidance, counselling and training. For this purpose, the Government will provide an allocation of RM50mil.

76. To make Malaysia an Entrepreneurial Nation, the 1Malaysia Entrepreneurs (1MeT) programme was implemented to expose entrepreneurship to youth who are interested to venture into business. Through the 1MeT Programme, a database of participants has been created.

77. The Government targets 5,000 young entrepreneurs to be trained yearly. In this regard, committed 1MeT entrepreneurs will be given further guidance at MaGIC. In addition, Malaysia will host the 5th Global Social Business Summit from 7 to 9 November 2013, which will provide a platform for social entrepreneur development, especially among youth in the country.

78. To reduce graduate unemployment, the Government encourages graduates to venture into entrepreneurship upon graduation. For this, I am pleased to announce that the Government will allocate RM50mil under the Graduate Entrepreneurship Fund which will be managed by SME Bank. The Fund will provide soft loans of up to RM500,000 at an interest rate of 4%.
Strengthening Small and Medium Enterprises

79. Currently, while SMEs account for 97.3% of the total registered businesses, their contribution to GDP is 32.4%. Following the new SME definition, the percentage of registered SMEs will increase to 98.5%. The Government is committed to ensuring that SMEs contribute 40% to GDP by 2020.

80. The Government proposes an allocation of RM120mil for an integrated package to increase innovation and productivity of SMEs. The package will provide financing for mechanisation and automation as well as upgrading capacity of SMEs. In addition, the Government provides various assistance and incentives under the Green Lane Policy programme for financing, tax incentives and procurement including:

  1. First: Subsidy on interest rate of 2% or a maximum of RM200,000 per year;
  2. Second: Stamp duty exemption for loan agreements under the soft loan incentive scheme;
  3. Third: Tax deduction on expenses incurred for obtaining 1-InnoCERT certification;
  4. Fourth: Government procurement incentives encompassing approved manufacturers status company registration without site visit as well as bonus marks given in technical evaluation; and
  5. Fifth: Priority incentives to participate in procurement exercise by Minister of Finance Incorporated Companies.
 The Government plans to extend these incentives until 31 December 2017.

81. The Government has implemented the Minimum Wage Policy on 1 January 2013. The monthly minimum wage is RM900 in Peninsular Malaysia, and RM800 in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan. To encourage compliance with this new policy, and to reduce the financial impact to SME employers, co-operatives, societies and associations, the Government proposes that the difference in the wages paid by employers for the period of 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014 be given further tax deduction.

82. To help the night market traders, the Government will create a Night Market Traders Entrepreneur Scheme with an allocation of RM100mil under Bank Simpanan Nasional. The soft loans will carry a 4% interest rate, with maximum loans of up to RM30,000. The facility is to cover business costs such as revolving capital, site rental, raw materials and business equipment.

SECOND THRUST: STRENGTHENING FISCAL MANAGEMENT

Transformation of Civil Service

83. To achieve this objective, we first need to transform the civil service. To improve the service delivery system, the Government will implement the transformation plan in every ministry. This is important to strengthen and restructure the organisation to remain relevant in line with current developments.

84. The Government views seriously the issues highlighted in the 2012 Auditor-General’s Report. To enhance confidence of the rakyat as well as uphold the image and credibility of the civil service, a special committee has been established, chaired by the Chief Secretary to the Government, to investigate and take stern action against errant civil servants.

85. The Public Service Department (JPA) is investigating and taking action on more than 100 cases for non-compliance with financial procedures including procurement procedures. Meanwhile, 15 cases are under the investigation of the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for prosecution.

86. To enhance integrity, the Government will establish an Integrity Management Unit in each ministry to increase compliance and adherence with established procedures. MACC officers will be represented in the Unit.
Improving Budget Management

87. To improve budget management, the Outcome-Based Budgeting (OBB) was introduced to ensure that allocation is based on outcomes; improve the efficiency of implementation; reduce redundancy as well as systematically evaluate performance of all Government programmes and projects. In 2014, three ministries, namely Ministry of Health, Ministry of International Trade and Industry as well as Ministry of Finance will undergo performance evaluation based on the OBB.

88. Last June, the Government established the Fiscal Policy Committee (FPC). The role of the FPC is to strengthen the Government’s financial position, ensure fiscal sustainability and long-term macroeconomic stability. The Government is committed to reducing the fiscal deficit gradually, with the aim of achieving a balanced budget by 2020. The Government will also ensure that Federal debt level will remain low and not exceed 55% of GDP.

89. In addition, the Government will continue to ensure a strong operating surplus where revenue will always exceed operating expenditure. Emphasis will be given to improving efficiency in spending, prioritising implementation of high-impact projects as well as improving auditing methods.

90. Currently, audit is only undertaken after a project or programme is completed. As a proactive measure, the Government will conduct audit on projects valued at more than RM100mil during its implementation.
Monthly Tax Deduction as Final Tax

91. Currently, tax payers with employment income and subject to monthly tax deduction (MTD) are required to submit tax returns before or on 30 April of each year. The requirement to submit tax returns has confused tax payers from whom MTD has already been made and yet they are still required to submit the tax returns to the Inland Revenue Board.

92. To facilitate tax payers with employment income whose MTD have been made, it is proposed that these tax payers are not required to submit tax returns if satisfied their MTD is a final tax. This proposal is effective from year assessment 2014.

Subsidy Rationalisation

93. In general, subsidies impede growth if not well targeted. The Government has allocated almost RM47bil in 2013 for various types of subsidies, incentives and assistance, including subsidies for petroleum products, food, health, agriculture and fisheries, utilities, toll as well as welfare and education.

94. Of this amount, the largest allocation of RM24.8bil or 53% is to subsidise petroleum products that are enjoyed by all segments of society, including the high-income group, businessmen and foreigners. In addition, subsidised products are also smuggled by irresponsible people. Subsidy is rakyat’s money and should be used to improve the well-being of the rakyat. However, if subsidies lead to wastage and losses, the Government will not hesitate to take appropriate action.

95. To ensure a targeted subsidy system, the Government will gradually restructure the subsidy programme. This is to ensure that only those who truly deserve will enjoy it. A portion of the savings from the restructuring of the subsidy system will be distributed in the form of direct cash assistance, while the other half will be used to finance development projects. For a start, the Government has reduced the subsidy on petroleum products by 20 sen a litre on 3 September 2013.

96. In addition, to ensure that there is no duplication in providing assistance and no deserving welfare assistance recipient is left out, the Government will establish a comprehensive database system, including integrating the databases of e-Kasih, recipients of welfare assistance; and BR1M recipients. For this, the Implementation and Coordination Unit, JPM will lead the initiative.

Goods and Services Tax (GST)

97. The Government takes cognisance that the current sales tax and service tax have certain weaknesses such as the impact of double taxation on consumers, the absence of full tax relief on exported goods and transfer pricing issue. These weaknesses ultimately will result in losses to the consumers and the Government.

98. In Budget 2013, the Government intended to take bold measures to strengthen the fiscal position of the nation. In fact a Bill in relation to the GST had been previously read in this august house. Since then we have received various views, both positive and negative.

99. The Government has taken a few years to conduct detailed and comprehensive studies, and has considered the views of all segments of society, including the chambers of commerce, investors, economists, academicians, consumer associations and NGOs.

100. Thus, based on the principal of People First, the Government has decided to expeditiously implement a fair and comprehensive tax system that benefits all Malaysians.

101. In this regard, the Government proposes that the sales tax and service tax be abolished. These two taxes will be replaced by a single tax known as the Goods and Services Tax (GST). I must stress that GST is not a new tax.

102. Currently, the inflation rate is low at 2%. The Government believes that this is the best time to implement GST as the inflation rate is low and contained.

103. With the implementation of GST, the Government will be able to address the weaknesses in the current taxation system. As an example, if we were to buy a carbonated drink in a restaurant today, we would not notice that we are paying double taxes which are sales tax and service tax.

104. Put differently or explained in simple terms, with the GST system, consumers will only need to pay tax once and the price of goods should be cheaper.

105. We feel disheartened that certain irresponsible groups tried to take advantage by confusing the general public on the understanding of GST. They claimed that when GST is implemented, the price of goods will rise, and that the poor and low-income group will bear the burden.

106. More than 160 countries have already implemented GST. This clearly demonstrates that GST is proven to be a transparent, effective and fair tax system. The vast majority of nations in the world would not have implemented GST, if it is disadvantageous to the people and the country. Most of the developed nations have long implemented GST or Value Added Tax (VAT). Even ASEAN countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Laos and Cambodia, as well as countries such as Burkina Faso, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Kenya have implemented GST.

107. On the part of the Government, GST legislation, computerised systems, training of officers, GST infrastructure and a comprehensive communication plan have been completed.

108. The proposed GST model to be implemented in Malaysia is as follows:
  1. First: The GST rate is fixed at 6% and to be effective from 1 April 2015, approximately 17 months from today.
  2. This rate is the lowest among ASEAN countries compared with 10% in Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Laos and 7% in Singapore and Thailand;
  3. Second: GST will not be imposed on basic food items such as rice, sugar, salt, flour, cooking oil, lentils, herbs and spices, salted fish, cencalok, budu and belacan;
  4. Third: GST will not be imposed on piped water supply, and the first 200 units of electricity per month for domestic consumers;
  5. Fourth: GST will not be imposed on services provided by the Government such as the issuance of passports, licences, health services and school education;
  6. Fifth: Transportation services such as bus, train, LRT, taxi, ferry, boat, highway toll as well as education and health services are exempted from GST; and
  7. Sixth: Sale, purchase and rental of residential properties as well as selected financial services are exempted from GST.
109. Upon the implementation of GST, the Government is committed to providing various forms of assistance to the rakyat during the GST transition period. The assistance and support are as follows:
  1. First: One-off cash assistance of RM300 to households who are BR1M recipients;
  2. Second: Individual income tax rates be reduced by 1 to 3 percentage points for all tax payers to increase their disposable income. With this measure, 300,000 persons who currently pay income tax will no longer pay tax. Generally, families with monthly income of RM4,000 will no longer have tax liability. Other existing tax payers will also enjoy tax savings; and
  3. Third: Individual income tax structure will be reviewed to enhance the competitiveness of the nation as well as to retain and attract talent and skilled workers into the country. To ensure a more progressive tax structure, the chargeable income subject to the maximum rate will be increased from exceeding RM100,000 to exceeding RM400,000. The current maximum tax rate at 26% will be reduced to 24%, 24.5% and 25%.
These measures will be effective from 2015.

110. In this regard, to ensure smooth implementation of GST by businesses, the Government proposes the following additional packages:
  1. First: Corporate income tax rate be reduced by 1 percentage point from 25% to 24%. Whereas income tax rate for small and medium companies will be reduced by 1 percentage point from 20% to 19% from the year of assessment 2016;
  2. Second: Cooperative income tax rate be reduced by 1 to 2 percentage points from the year of assessment 2015;
  3. Third: Secretarial fee and tax filing fee are allowed as tax deductions from the year of assessment 2015;
  4. Fourth: Cost of purchasing ICT equipment and software is given Accelerated Capital Allowance until year of assessment 2016;
  5. Fifth: Expenses incurred for training in accounting and ICT relating to GST be given further tax deduction for years of assessment 2014 and 2015; and
  6. Sixth: Training grant of RM100mil will be provided to businesses that send their employees for GST training in 2013 and 2014. In addition, financial assistance amounting to RM150mil will be provided to SMEs for the purchase of accounting software in 2014 and 2015.
111. With the various special packages provided by the Government, certainly no parties should take opportunity to increase prices of goods and services unscrupulously. Prices of goods will be constantly monitored. The Government will publish prices of goods and services as a guide for consumers to compare prices.

112. Consumers are urged to make rational choices, spend prudently and report unethical traders to the authorities. In this regard, the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism will intensify enforcement efforts through the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

113. In addition, to ensure the smooth implementation of GST, a GST Monitoring Committee will be established and chaired by the Honourable Second Minister of Finance with members from Government agencies as well as representatives from industries and NGOs.
 
THIRD THRUST: INCULCATING EXCELLENCE IN HUMAN CAPITAL

114. The biggest challenge for Malaysia is holistic human capital. Holistic human capital development includes intellectual capital, artistic skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills, thinking, innovation and creativity. In essence, physical and technological developments must be balanced with noble values. Otherwise, there will be a vacuum and material success will not be rooted in universal human values.

115. The Government will continue to provide quality and advanced skills training to meet the demands of the job market. In addition, the physical, spiritual and intellectual aspects will be honed from young to tertiary level. The workforce will also be infused with noble values so that society lives in peace and harmony.

Enhancing Educational Excellence

116. In achieving the third thrust, the first initiative is enhancing educational excellence. Indeed, every Budget has provided the largest allocation to the education sector. Education is important. Since ancient times, a civilisation will not last if not imbued with knowledge and wisdom.

117. The Government is committed to accelerating academic achievement, competencies and skills. Towards this, the Government will allocate a sum of RM54.6bil or 21% of the total allocation in 2014. In addition, the Government will ensure that the implementation of the Malaysia Education Blueprint achieves the objective of ranking Malaysia in the top one third category of the world’s best education, within a span of 15 years.

118. To continue upholding excellence in education beginning from preschool to the secondary level, programmes to be implemented include:
  1. First: The Government recognises that early education is critical for physical and mental development. In this regard, we allocate RM530mil for preschool programmes as well as set up 93 preschools in national-type primary school;
  2. Second: Implementing programmes to enhance the teaching profession with emphasis on teaching, improving teaching methods and proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia and English. For this, a sum of RM209mil is provided;
  3. Third: Expanding internet access in schools especially in rural areas with an allocation of RM168mil; and
  4. Fourth: Build 33 new schools and upgrading existing ones, including dilapidated schools with an allocation of RM831mil.
119. In the 2012 and 2013 Budget, respectively the Government provided RM1bil under the Special Fund for Building, Upgrading and Maintenance of Schools specifically for urgent repairs and maintenance of school buildings; purchase of equipment and construction of additional blocks.

120. To follow up on the Government’s commitment, I am pleased to announce an additional RM450mil for this Special Fund. Of this, RM100mil will be channelled to national schools and RM50mil each to national-type Chinese schools, RM50mil to national-type Tamil schools; mission schools; Government-assisted religious schools; boarding schools; and Maktab Rendah Sains MARA as well as People’s Religious Schools (SAR).

Tertiary Education

121. The Government will focus on strengthening public and private higher learning institutions towards producing quality graduates who meet the demands of the job market.
Among programmes to be implemented include:
  1. First: Improving the status of research universities by increasing research and the number of articles for publications in international journals. For this, the Government will provide an allocation of RM600mil in research grants for public institutions of higher learning; and
  2. Second: The Government will continue the MyBrain15 programme which finances tuition fees at post-graduate level, especially for executives in the private sector. For this, a sum of RM110mil is allocated.

122. Publishing articles in international academic journals is an important aspect in promoting the works of local academicians. Recognising the importance of establishing a world-class scholarly centre, the Government will establish a Malaysian Citation Centre to increase publication of local scholarly works and assist researchers publish articles in renowned international journals.

Strengthening Skills Training

123. Continuous efforts will be made to improve the quality of training in order to produce a highly skilled workforce. The Government will therefore implement the following measures:
  1. First: Implement a single tier for the Malaysian Skills Certificate course Levels 1 to Level 3 for 6 months in all Industrial Training Institutes under the purview of Manpower Department (JTM);
  2. Second: Upgrade and replace equipment at JTM training institutes with the latest technology involving an allocation of RM178mil; and
  3. Third: Allocate a sum of RM330mil to Skills Development Fund under the Ministry of Human Resource. The fund will provide loans for SPM leavers to enrol in skills training courses.

124. Youth are the nation’s hope, asset and heir for the future. According to religious scholars, good behaviour of youth today will reflect the future of the nation.

125. A sum of RM200mil is allocated to upgrade and implement a two-shift approach at the National Youth Skills (IKBN). Among the areas that have been identified include automotive, marine maintenance, welding and electrical wiring which will benefit more than 15,000 IKBN trainees nationwide.

126. At present, there are 13,000 registered employers who contribute a levy of 1% of the monthly wages of workers to the Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF). The levy is used to train and upgrade the skills of workers.

127. HRDF will provide RM400mil for registered companies to give opportunities to employees to enrol in upskilling and reskilling programmes. The allocation can also be used by these companies to train apprentices and future workers.

128. To ensure employees are able to balance between career and family commitments, a flexible work environment is important. Therefore, it is proposed that employers implement the Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA) to give flexibility in terms of duration, place and working hours at the workplace.

129. The FWA may be implemented through compressed work week, flexi 
hours and weekend work. To encourage more Malaysian companies to adopt FWA as the norm, the Government proposes that training expenses and consultancy fees incurred by employers in implementing FWA be given further tax deduction.

Schooling Assistance

130. The Government will continue giving RM100 to all primary and secondary students to ease the burden of schooling expenses. For this, the Government will allocate RM540mil which will benefit about 5.4 million students. I understand some parents have donated the sum to the Parent-Teachers Association (PIBG). The Government appreciates the kind gesture.

1Malaysia Book Voucher

131. A reading culture among the rakyat should be enhanced. Make the book your friend, your torch in the dark and a lifelong mind stimulant.

132. To ease the burden of students in pre-university and institutions of higher learning in purchasing books and reference materials, the Government will continue to provide the 1Malaysia Book Voucher Programme valued at RM250 to each student. The initiative is expected to benefit 1.3 million students involving an allocation of RM325mil.

FOURTH THRUST: INTENSIFYING URBAN AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS)

133. The National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) is an integrated approach by the Government in formulating policies and initiatives through smart partnership between the ministries and agencies.

134. The strategy complements the National Transformation Policy. To date, 56 initiatives have been implemented using the NBOS approach of low cost, speedy implementation and high impact programmes. In 2014, the Government will allocate RM278 million to implement various programmes including:
  1. First: Launching of the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) in Sabah at the end of the year and 4 more UTCs with one each in Sarawak, Johor, Terengganu and Perlis, in addition to the existing 5 UTCs;
  2. Second: Launching an additional three Rural Transformation Centres (RTCs) with one each in Sabah, Sarawak and Negeri Sembilan, bringing the total to 8 RTCs; and
  3. Third: Implementing Mobile Community Transformation Centre or Mobile CTC by increasing the number of modified buses and vans. The main services to be provided include MyKad registration, driving licence renewal, health screening and business advisory services.

Strengthening the Public Transport Network

135. An efficient public transport system facilitates mobility, saves time and travel costs. The Government is therefore committed to improving public transport, including providing quality and comfortable facilities. Among the initiatives taken are:
  1. First: Constructing the Ipoh-Padang Besar double-tracking project and later extending to Johor Bahru as well as upgrading rail tracks nationwide with an allocation of RM2.9bil;
  2. Second: Providing ‘park and ride’ facilities at LRT stations, KTM commuter stations and ERL stations with an allocation of RM62mil;
  3. Third: Introducing a Centralised Taxi Service System with an allocation of RM15.3mil to ensure efficient mobilisation of taxi services;
  4. Fourth: Building ‘last city terminals’ and upgrading bus stops as well as providing ‘drop-and-ride’ facilities involving an allocation of RM28mil; and
  5. Fifth: Refurbishing Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) trains at a cost of RM28mil to ensure frequency and efficiency of services.

136. To ensure a seamless network between urban and rural areas, the Government will allocate RM130mil to subsidise rural air transport, especially for rural population in Sabah and Sarawak. Holding firm to the principle of People First, the Government will also continue to subsidise uneconomical train routes in East Coast, namely Pahang and Kelantan. The move will benefit about 600,000 commuters involving an allocation of RM52.9mil.

Enhancing Urban Well-being

137. Currently, there are various local community groups such as Residents’ Associations, Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung, as well Neighbourhood Watch, which focus on administration as well as promote unity and harmony among local residents.

138. To enhance coordination and community well-being, particularly in urban areas the Government proposes the establishment of Jawatankuasa Perwakilan Penduduk (JPP) in local authorities (PBT). JPP will be represented by members of the local community to support community development programmes, apart from addressing issues in their areas. For this, the Government will establish 24 JPP zones in each local authority with an allocation of RM63mil.

139. Currently, treated water supply reserves nationwide have not met the 20% target with water supply disruptions, particularly during peak periods. Therefore, to increase the coverage of water supply to 100%, especially in urban areas, the Government will build and upgrade dams and water treatment plants involving an allocation of RM1.2bil.

Rural Development

140. To further strengthen and improve basic infrastructure as well as improve the living standards of people in rural areas, a sum of RM4.1bil is provided for rural development programmes for basic infrastructure projects such as:
  1. First: A sum of RM980mil is allocated for the refurbishment and upgrading of 437 kilometers of rural road networks nationwide. In addition, a total of RM500 million is provided for the Pan-Borneo Highway project;
  2. Second: A sum of RM457mil is allocated for the provision of potable water to 8,000 houses in rural areas. In addition, RM75mil is allocated for the supply of water tanks in Sarawak;
  3. Third: A sum of RM865mil is allocated for the provision of uninterrupted 24-hour electricity supply to more than 16,000 homes nationwide. In addition, to address the frequent electricity supply disruption in Sabah, a sum of RM265mil is allocated to strengthen the generation and transmission system such as upgrading of the Tenom Pangi Hydro Power Station, construction of Kimanis electricity transmission lines and construction of main switch station in Sandakan;
  4. Fourth: A sum of RM179mil is allocated to build and refurbish 20,000 houses for poor people in rural areas;
  5. Fifth: To encourage entrepreneurship among the rural populace and increase their incomes, a sum of RM20mil is allocated for Rural Business Challenge programme which includes food production, fish farming, auto repair and agro-tourism; and
  6. Sixth: A sum of RM109mil is provided for the economic development as well as to upgrade the infrastructure, facilities and living standard for the Orang Asli community.

141. The Government will continue with the flood mitigation programme (RTB) in Sungai Muda in Kedah, RTB Lembangan Sungai Muar in Johor, RTB Sungai Bunus in Kuala Lumpur and RTB Pekan in Pahang. For this, the Government will allocate RM659mil. In addition, the Government will provide an allocation of RM79mil for dredging and deepening river estuaries.

142. The Government is aware that the Bumiputra minority particularly in Sabah and Sarawak face challenges in owning customary land. For this, the Government will allocate RM50mil for land surveying and customary land ownership verification.

FIFTH THRUST: ENSURING THE WELL-BEING OF THE RAKYAT

Malaysia Happiness Index

143. The nation’s prosperity does not only depend on economic progress, but also the quality of life and the well-being of the rakyat. In this regard, the Malaysian Well-being Index (MWI 2012) was developed. The Government will continue to formulate policies and strategies to improve the quality of life and well-being of the rakyat.

Enhance Security and Public Order

144. The Government appreciates the contribution of the security forces. Priority is also given to security and public order. The Government is committed to combatting crime and averting foreign threat which may disrupt national security and harmony.

145. For this, the Government will allocate a sum of RM8.8bil to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and RM13.2bil to the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) to reduce crime and enhance military preparedness.

146. To further strengthen the police force, the Government will build and upgrade the Police Headquarters, District Police Headquarters (IPD) and staff quarters involving an allocation of RM128mil. The sum includes the construction of a new IPD in Pasir Mas, Kota Setar, Johor Bahru Selatan, Sipitang and Nusajaya as well as building a new Police Station in Pengerang, Tongod and Country Homes Rawang.

147. In the fight against serious crime, the Government has allocated RM200mil to equip PDRM with the latest tools and equipment such as firearms, ammunition, bulletproof vests, narcotic detectors, biometric systems and forensic vehicles. The Government also will provide 496 closed-circuit cameras (CCTV) in 25 local authorities involving an allocation of RM20mil.

148. In addition to the 1,000 motorcycles purchased this year for the Police Motorcycle Patrol Unit, the Government has agreed to procure an additional 800 motorcycles with an allocation of RM20 million this year. The Government will also procure an additional 200 motorcycles bringing it to a total of 2,000 motorcycles for 2 years.

149. The armed intrusion in Lahad Datu is a black mark for Malaysia. The sacrifices and the patriotic deeds of the armed forces in defending the nation is highly appreciated. What is important is that we will not allow even an inch of our land to be taken away by anyone. Sabah will remain with Malaysia forever.

150. To safeguard our territorial waters from foreign threat, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak, the Government established the East Coast Special Security Area (ESSCOM) early this year. To further strengthen ESSCOM operations, the Government will allocate a sum of RM75mil for 2014.

151. In addition, the Government will continue to enhance national security of our territorial waters and borders by strengthening surveillance and upgrading defence equipment. This includes the purchase of six offshore patrol vessels; four cargo aircrafts and support equipment; as well as armoured vehicles with an allocation of RM2.4bil.

152. The Government is concerned about the welfare of armed forces personnel and veterans. In recognition of their contribution to the nation, the Government will allocate RM48mil to cater for the welfare of 20,000 ATM veterans, including health payments, ex-gratia and education.

153. In addition, a total of RM202mil will be allocated to build and refurbish ATM quarters. The Government will also provide school bus services for the children of military personnel to replace the army trucks.

Environmental Conservation and Resource Management

154. The Government is committed to providing a clean, safe and healthy environment for the present and future generations. Among the programmes to be implemented are the National Carbon Reporting Programme or MyCarbon by the corporate sector, establishment of a National Conservation Trust Fund for conservation of degraded areas and permanent forest reserves, as well as natural resource management.

155. To strengthen the development of green technology, the Government will provide investment tax allowance for the purchase of green technology equipment and income tax exemption on the use of green technology services and system.

156. To encourage a green lifestyle, Malaysian Green Foundation will be established to promote and enhance use of green technology by the corporate sector and the general public. For this, a launching grant of RM15mil will be provided to the Foundation.

157. As an immediate measure to prevent the recurrence of the recent tragedy in Cameron Highlands, the Government will approve an allocation of RM40mil to widen and deepen Sungai Bertam.

158. To improve efficiency and electricity energy conservation, the Government will undertake energy audits as well as install retrofit in ministry buildings. For 2014, the Ministry of Health; Ministry of Youth and Sports; Ministry of Human Resources; Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism; and the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry have been identified for the implementation of the initiative. In addition, the Government will install solar panels on rooftops of ministry buildings as well as replace existing lights with LED lights in stages.

Quality Healthcare Services

159. The Government will continue to provide quality healthcare and medical services for the rakyat. For this, a sum of RM22.1bil will be allocated for the health sector under operating and development expenditure. The allocation will be channelled to programmes and projects, including the construction of Hospital Tanjung Karang and additional blocks for Hospital Jeli; as well as the upgrading of Hospital Kuala Lipis and 30 rural clinics.

160. In addition, the Government will allocate RM66mil for the purchase of equipment and the construction of additional blocks in Hospital Queen Elizabeth in Kota Kinabalu. The Government has set up 234 1Malaysia clinics, and another 50 additional 1Malaysia clinics will be established in 2014. To address the shortage of parking lots at Hospital Kuala Lumpur, a total of 1,950 new parking lots will be completed in 2014. Meanwhile, hospitals in Rompin and Tampin as well as National Cancer Institute will be operational early next year.

161. To improve the quality of nursing care and reduce the nurses’ workload of working continuously in two shifts, the Government will appoint 6,800 more nurses with an allocation of RM150mil. Apart from this, a total of RM3.3bil will be allocated for the purchase of medicine and medical equipment to ensure patients receive appropriate treatment including expanding the cardiothoracic services in Hospital Ipoh, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan and Kuching.

162. The Government recognises the difficulty of patients with kidney failure having to go to the haemodialysis centre for dialysis 3 times a week. Patients spend up to RM400 for each treatment. To facilitate patients with end state kidney failure, the Government will provide free treatment kits called Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) costing RM19,000 per unit. The initiative which is expected to benefit over 1,000 patients will allow them to be treated at home.

163. Statistics indicate that 2.6 million Malaysians under the age of 30 are diabetic. If left untreated, patients will face various complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and amputation. In relation to this, the Government proposes to abolish the sugar subsidy of 34 sen effective 26 October 2013. I urge all Malaysians to take care of their health and reduce sugar in your food and drinks.

Development of National Sports

164. Sports development requires a comprehensive ecosystem, including infrastructure, management and coaching, talent building and welfare of athletes from an early age. Therefore, a sum of RM239mil is allocated to pursue excellence in sports including upgrading sports complexes and courts, establishing Pilot Talent Identification Programme in primary schools and to implement the Future Professional Coach Programme to hone the skills of potential coaches for selected sports.

165. In addition, the Government will allocate RM150mil to the Sports Trust Fund for the development of elite sports, medical treatment and research. Furthermore, the Government will make thorough preparations to ensure the success of athletes in international sports competitions, including 2014 Asian Games in Incheon; 2014 Youth Olympics in Nanjing; and the 2015 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Enhancing the Role of Women and Well-being of Families

166. Women not only play an important role in their families but also contribute significantly to nation building. Their contribution has been highly recognised. In this regard, programmes for the development of women and family institution will be continued with an allocation of RM2.2bil to the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.

167. Various programmes will be implemented, including Akademi Inovasi Wanita under the purview of Institut Tadbiran Awam Negara (INTAN). The academy will draw up programmes relating to leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

168. Some of the programmes include the Women Directors Programme which prepares women to be members of Board of Directors; Purple DNA Entrepreneurship Programme such as “Purple Licious”, a mobile food kiosk; and an additional 23 Senior Citizens Activity Centres.

169. The Government will also double the rate of daily allowance for children in institutions under the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) from RM1.50 per day to RM3 per day for school going children and from RM0.50 to RM1.00 per day for children who have not started schooling. The scheme will benefit 4,500 children in JKM institutions nationwide. In addition, the daily allowance for senior citizens in JKM institutions will be raised from RM10 to RM30 a month to cater for their daily needs.

170. To ease the burden of civil servants, the eligibility to qualify for the subsidy of public sector TASKA fee of RM180 per month is now extended to households with a monthly income of RM5,000 compared with RM3,000 previously.

171. In addition, the Government is proposing a monthly assistance of RM250 in nursery fees, to parents with a monthly income of not more than RM900 and who enrol their children in private nurseries registered under JKM. The move will benefit 3,334 children under the age of four, and involve an allocation of RM15 million.

172. As an addition to the Human Papilloma Virus immunization services and mammogram screening, the Government is proposing a free breast prostheses and special bras for breast cancer patients. The initiative will assist in offsetting the cost of purchasing the support material which is estimated to cost about RM1,200 and will benefit more than 8,000 breast cancer patients. The allocation set aside for this is RM9mil.

173. I would like to announce that the Government will purchase four special buses for the implementation of the Mobile Family Centre which will provide advisory services related to family matters; dietary requirements; screening for chronic disease; as well as testing for glucose and cholesterol.

Empowering Bumiputera

174. The aspiration to achieve a developed and high income nation status can only be achieved through concerted efforts by all, especially the Bumiputera. The Government is committed to further strengthening the participation of Bumiputera in the economic development of the country and make the Bumiputera agenda a national agenda.

175. For this, the Government will implement various programmes including intensifying skills training for youth and Professional Leaders Programme as well as increasing student intake into UiTM to 250,000 by 2020.

176. Student population in UiTM has reached 180,000. In addition, the Government will increase Bumiputera equity holdings and property ownership through the Skim Jejak Jaya Bumiputera (SJJB), Skim Amanah Saham Bumiputera 2 and strengthen the Bumiputera real estate institution.

177. To increase Bumiputera equity ownership, SME Bank will establish Bumiputera Equity Fund (EquiBumi) with an allocation of RM300mil to provide loans to credible Bumiputera companies to take over listed companies or companies with potential to be listed on Bursa Malaysia.

178. In addition, an allocation of RM200mil is provided by the SME Bank for loan facility for the development programmes for Malay Reserve Lands in strategic areas such as Kampung Baru, Kampung Pandan and Kampung Datuk Keramat. This facility will help to improve the standard of living of the Malay community in line with the rapid development in the surrounding area.

179. The Government will continue to increase Bumiputera participation in business and entrepreneurship to generate income and wealth. Among programmes to be implemented are the establishment of Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Start-Up Scheme (SUPERB) with an initial fund of RM30mil.

180. In addition, to enhance the vendor development programmes, the Government proposes that expenses incurred by anchor companies, especially GLCs be given double tax deduction.

181. To increase business opportunities and access to funding for SME entrepreneurs, soft loan facilities will also be provided. Among the financing facilities are the Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia with funds totalling RM300mil and TEKUN with RM700mil.

Assisting the Disabled (OKU)

182. We recognise that everyone is special and we are all perfect in the eyes of God. In relation to this, the contribution of OKU is highly appreciated. Many facilities have been provided for their well-being and to maximise their potential. The Government will allocate RM441mil for the development and welfare of OKU.

Appreciating Artistes

183. Artistes are an integral part of civilisation. In appreciation of their contribution, the Government proposes to continue providing financial assistance amounting to RM6 million for administration and operations of registered associations.

Development of Malaysian Indians

184. It is said that kindness should be reciprocated with kindness. I would like to thank all Malaysian Indians who supported the Barisan Nasional Government in the 13th General Election.

185. The Government will continue to focus on the development of Malaysian Indians so that they are part of mainstream development. For this, the Government will allocate RM100mil for enhancing education performance and skills training, including RM28mil for early education programmes, involving 176 Tamil pre-schools and i-Sinar programmes.

186. The programme will improve the performance of students through counselling, motivation and tuition in 45 Tamil schools in estates. In addition, an allocation of RM50mil will be provided through the Skim Pembiayaan Muda India (SPUMI) under TEKUN while loans are also available for Malaysian Indian entrepreneurs through Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia.

Increasing Home Ownership

187. I hear the grouses of the rakyat who wish to own a comfortable home, especially from those in the low and medium- income groups. Various concerns have often been raised, such as soaring house prices, inadequate supply of houses and difficulties in getting financing.

188. The recent sharp increase in the prices of houses has affected the ability of the rakyat to purchase houses. In addition, speculative activities have an impact on house prices and can adversely affect the real estate market in the long term.

189. To increase the ability of the rakyat to buy a house and ensure stable house prices, as well as to control excessive speculative activities, the Government will implement the following steps :
  1. First: Review Real Property Gains Tax (RPGT). For gains on properties disposed within the holding period of up to three years, RPGT rate is increased to 30%, whereas for disposals within the holding period up to four and five years, the rates are increased to 20% and 15%, respectively. For disposals made in the sixth and subsequent years, no RPGT is imposed on citizens, whereas companies are taxed at 5%.
  2. For non-citizens, RPGT is imposed at 30% on the gains from properties disposed within the holding period of up to 5 years and for disposals in the sixth and subsequent years, RPGT is imposed at 5%.
  3. Second: Increase the minimum price of property that can be purchased by foreigners from RM500,000 to RM1,000,000;
  4. Third: Increase transparency in property sales price, where property developers will have to display detailed sales price including all benefits and incentives offered to buyers such as exemption of legal fees, stamp duty, sales agreements, cash rebates and free gifts; and
  5. Fourth: Prohibit developers from implementing projects that have features of Developer Interest Bearing Scheme (DIBS), to prevent developers from incorporating interest rates on loans in house prices during the construction period. Therefore, financial institutions are prohibited from providing final funding for projects involved in the DIBS scheme.
190. To further increase access to home ownership at affordable prices, an estimated 223,000 units of new houses will be built by the Government and the private sector in 2014. The Government will allocate RM578mil to the National Housing Department (JPN) for the implementation of Program Perumahan Rakyat which involves the construction of 16,473 housing units. In addition, JPN will construct 600 units for Program Perumahan Rakyat Disewa and Perumahan Rakyat Bersepadu with an allocation of RM146mil.

191. PR1MA will provide 80,000 housing units with an allocation of RM1bil. The sales price of PR1MA houses are 20% lower than market prices. Meanwhile, SPNB will build 26,122 units of affordable houses, comprising 15,122 units of affordable houses, 3,000 units Rumah Idaman Rakyat and 8,000 units of Rumah Mesra Rakyat. The Government will introduce a new category of Rumah Mesra Rakyat, with sales price between RM45,000 and RM65,000 for which the Government will provide a subsidy between RM15,000 to RM20,000 per unit.

192. The Government will also introduce the Private Affordable Ownership Housing Scheme (MyHome) as a step to encourage the private sector to build more low and medium-cost houses. The scheme provides a subsidy of RM30,000 to the private developers for each unit built. Among the criteria for the scheme are:
  1. First: Build at least 20% low-cost houses and 20% medium-cost houses in a housing project;
  2. Second: The maximum price of low-cost houses is RM45,000 and medium-cost houses is RM170,000;
  3. Third: The minimum built-up area of low-cost houses is 800 square feet and the medium-cost houses, 1,000 square feet, with a minimum of 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms;
  4. Fourth: Provide parking, surau, hall and recreational park; and
  5. Fifth: Open to first-time buyers with a monthly household income of RM3,000 for low-cost houses and a maximum of RM6,000 for medium-cost houses.
193. Preference will be given to developers who build low and medium-cost houses in areas with high demand and limited to 10,000 units in 2014. The scheme is for housing projects approved effective from 1 January 2014 with an allocation of RM300mil under the supervision of Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government.

194. Currently, PR1MA housing projects, housing in newly opened areas and 1Malaysia Civil Servants’ Housing Programme are eligible to apply for grants at 10% of the project cost, from the Facilitation Fund. For 2014, the Government will provide a total of RM4bil to the Facilitation Fund as an initiative to promote private, high-strategic impact projects.

195. Of this, I propose that RM1bil is allocated to the Housing Facilitation Fund under Public Private Partnership Unit (UKAS). Developers who receive this grant must abide by the terms and conditions as well as the sales prices which are set by the Government.

196. The Government will also carry out a refurbishment program and improve comfort and beautify government-owned low-cost housing. Among the measures to be implemented include lift maintenance, repainting the house, cleaning up drains and landfill space and repair playgrounds.

197. To this end, a sum of RM100mil will be provided to 1Malaysia Maintenance Fund under the Ministry of Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government. The Government will also allocate RM82mil to rehabilitate 20 abandoned housing projects involving 8,197 houses.

198. To further strengthen the real estate market and increase opportunities for the rakyat to own houses, the Government will implement a more effective and comprehensive approach. In this regard, I am pleased to propose the establishment of the National Housing Council to develop strategies and action plans in a holistic manner; coordinate legal aspects and property price mechanism; and ensure provision of homes in a more efficient and expeditious manner. The Council members will comprise Federal Agencies, State Governments, the National Housing Department, PR1MA, SPNB and the private sector.

Price Uniformity Programme

199. The Government is aware that prices of essential goods are more expensive in Sabah and Sarawak compared with Peninsular Malaysia, due to higher shipping and distribution costs. To help reduce prices of goods and costs, the Government will allocate a sum of RM331mil to continue the price uniformity programme and subsidies including transport cost.

200. Additionally, 60 Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) will be set with an allocation of RM30mil to help reduce the prices of daily necessities.
Tax Relief for Middle-Income Group

201. The Government has never neglected the middle-income group who form the largest number of tax payers. They are also burdened by increasing cost of living. To further assist this group, the Government proposes a special tax relief of RM2,000 be given to tax payers with a monthly income up to RM8,000 received in 2013.

202. This measure will result in tax savings up to RM480. This group is already enjoying tax savings up to RM475 on income received in 2013 with the reduction of tax rates announced by the Government in the last Budget.

CONCLUSION

203. We are grateful that we remain united, live in peace and harmony and have developed the nation since independence on 31 August 1957.

204. On 16 September 1963, history was created when Sabah and Sarawak joined Malaysia. It is clearly evident that this unity and togetherness have brought blessings to Malaysia.

205. For more than five decades, the Barisan Nasional Government has earned the rakyat’s trust through power sharing and consensus among component parties.

206. The Barisan Nasional Government has never been reckless in managing the nation. Instead we have been very committed and serious.

207. In all our endeavours, we have always put the interest and the well-being of the people first.

208. The Government values the contribution of civil servants who play a vital role in implementing policies and programmes for national development. Hence, in July, the Government gave an additional annual increment to all civil servants involving an allocation of RM1.6bil.

209. In addition, the Government gave three increments to those who have reached their maximum pay in all schemes of service, benefiting 182,434 civil servants. Thus, this evening, I am glad to announce that the Government has agreed to improve 81 schemes of service from November.
Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M)

210. In efforts to reduce the burden of the rakyat, I am glad to announce the BR1M to households and single individuals will be improved in line with targeted subsidy programme.

211. BR1M to households with a monthly income of below RM3,000 will be increased from RM500 to RM650.

212. For single individuals aged 21 and above and with a monthly income not exceeding RM2,000, BR1M will be increased from RM250 to RM300.

213. To complement the BR1M programme, I propose a contribution of RM50 to the Group Takaful Rakyat 1Malaysia (i-BR1M), for all BR1M household recipients. The initiative will provide protection of up to RM30,000 to BR1M recipients in the event of death or permanent disability.

214. In short, all BR1M households recipients with a monthly income of not more than RM3,000 will enjoy financial assistance of RM700.

215. For the first time, BR1M assistance of RM450 will be extended to households with a monthly income of between RM3,000 and RM4,000. The assistance is given to alleviate the rising cost of living borne by the lower middle-income group.

216. This group will also enjoy the RM50 contribution to i-BR1M bringing the total BR1M assistance to RM500. To implement all the 2014 BR1M packages, the Government will allocate RM4.6bil which is expected to benefit 7.9 million recipients.

Valuing the Contribution of Civil Servants

217. Last August, just before the Eid Celebrations, civil servants and pensioners received special financial assistance of RM500 and RM250, respectively.

218. Today, I am pleased to announce that pensioners will receive a special financial assistance of RM250 to assist them meet the rising cost of living.

219. For civil servants, I announce a half-month bonus for 2013 with a minimum payment of RM500 to be paid in early January 2014.

220. This is a post-election budget which fulfils promises made during the election. Our efforts will not end here. On the contrary, the Barisan Nasional will continue to lead the nation with vigour and courage for the next 50 years.

221. However, our noble efforts will always be criticised by our colleagues on the other side of the aisle.

222. Be that as it may. The truth will always prevail.

223. Even John Kerry, the US Secretary of State who visited us recently acknowledged Malaysia as a model for the rest of the world in various aspects of development. The President of China, Xi Jinping also praised Malaysia as a loyal friend and partner who can be trusted in good and bad times.

224. Despite all the allegations we will not give up easily but will continue to work hard for the rakyat and the nation.

225. We acknowledge that there may be some weaknesses in our administration in the past. However, we have always placed the rakyat’s interest above all else. With the solid support of the rakyat, we will continue to improve.

226. If we remain united, there are no problems that cannot be solved.

227. We assure you that we will not allow irresponsible people to take over the Government. We will defend Putrajaya for the rakyat and our beloved nation.

228. The 2014 Budget will take Malaysia to greater heights and competitiveness in the international arena. God willing, we will table six more budgets before the nation becomes a high-income and developed nation by 2020.

229. In the interest of the rakyat, we hope that the 2014 Budget is blessed by The Almighty.

230. In conclusion, we have given our best and leave the rest to The Almighty. May He bless and keep Malaysia safe and prosperous. - Bernama

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source:  http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/10/25/Budget-2014-PM-speech.aspx