The Big Malaysia is back....

Budget 2011 highlights

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 16:55

KUALA LUMPUR: The Budget 2011 emphasises on efforts to transform the nation into a developed and high-income economy with inclusive and sustainable development.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said the government took into consideration views from the public and private sectors, focus groups, media, 1M blog and lab sessions.

Below are the salient points as tweeted by the Prime Minister's office:

* The deficit for 2011 is expected to further decline to 5.4% of GDP, compared with 5.6% in 2010.

* Government revenue collection is estimated to increase 2.3% to RM165.8 billion in 2011, up from RM162.1 billion in 2010.

* RM45.6 billion will be allocated for development expenditure, RM15.5 billion for the social sector.

* RM212 billion allocated for Budget 2011, which is 2.8% higher than the allocation for 2010.

* Civil servants' burden in coping with schooling expenses to be reduced by providing a Special Financial Assistance of RM500.

* The government agrees to abolish the Competency Level Assessment/PTK and replace it with a more suitable evaluation system by June 2011.

* 1Malaysia Development Fund Bhd (1MDB) will provide RM20 million to the 1Malaysia Youth Fund. This fund will be utilised to instill the 1Malaysia spirit.

* To assist children, particularly from low-income families, excel academically, the 1MDB will provide multi-vitamins for primary school pupils.

* RM1.9 billion allocated to environmental preservation, including implementing the River of Life Programme and KL greening.

* RM70 million allocated for programs with select NGOs to help the government strengthen the family institution and address social ills e.g. baby dumping.

* RM350 million allocated to implement various programmes to combat crime, including burglary, motorcycle and car thefts.

* The government will provide an additional 25 1Malaysia clinics. Since 2009, 51 1Malaysia clinics are in operation.

* RM15.2 billion allocated to build new hospitals, increase the number of doctors and nurses as well as to obtain supplies of medicines and equipment.

* Toll rates in four highways owned by Plus Expressway Bhd will not be raised for the next five years, effective immediately.

* RM100 million allocated to implement various programmes, including resolving Orang Asli land rights and border settlement issues.

* The monthly allowance for KAFA teachers will be increased to RM800, an increase from RM500, starting January 2011.

* Effective January 2011, the monthly allowance of imam will be increased from RM450 to RM750.

*Allowances for JKKK, JKKP, JKKK Orang Asli chairmen and Tok Batin increased to RM800.

* Government to establish a 1Malaysia Smart Consumer portal to help the rakyat keep abreast with price movements of retail goods.

* RM974 million allocated as price subsidy for paddy, fertilisers and paddy seeds. RM230 million for production incentives and increasing paddy yield.

* Build and upgrade rural roads in Sabah and Sarawak with an allocation of RM2.1 billion and RM696 million in Peninsular Malaysia.

* RM2.1 billion allocated to build and upgrade rural roads in Sabah and Sarawak.

* RM6.9 billion allocated to implement basic infrastructure such as water and electricity supply as well as rural roads.

* First-time house buyers will be given stamp duty exemption of 50% on instruments of transfer on a house price not exceeding RM350,000.

* Government will extend tax relief of up to RM5,000 to help parents with expenses such as daycare, caretakers and other daily needs.

* Government will launch assistance programme to benefit 80,000 disabled individuals with an allocation of RM218 million

* In 2011, the government will allocate RM1.2 billion to the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.

* To develop football, the government will establish a Football Academy in Pahang with RM20 million to produce quality football players.

* For sports development and management, a sum of RM365 million is allocated to the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

* Government will allow flexibility to self-determine fully-paid maternity leave, not exceeding 90 days from the current 60 days.

* Government will provide 40 1Malaysia Taska (nurseries) to assist women to obtain quality childcare and early education for their children.

* RM30 million allocated to introduce the Single Mother Skill Incubator Programme and the Prime Entrepreneur and Women Activist Award.

* Government will enforce basic minimum wages for security guards, to between RM500 and RM700 a month depending on location.

* RM200 million from the Human Resource Development Fund to be used by companies to fund specific training programmes for their employees.

* RM200 million allocated to conduct part-time training in the evenings and weekends in selected training centres nationwide.

* 1Malaysia Training Programme will commence in January 2011 with an allocation of RM500 million.

* RM474 million provided to enhance productivity and skills of non-graduates.

* Government will also allocate RM50 million to Multimedia Development Corporation to train graduates in ICT.

* RM60 million allocated to further intensify the Industrial Skill Enhancement Programme in state skills development training centres.

* RM20 million allocated to increase PhD qualified academic staff to 75% in research universities and to 60% in other higher learning institutions.

* RM213 million allocated to enhance proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia, strengthen the English language.

* RM576 million allocated in the form of scholarships for those wishing to further their studies.

* RM250 million allocated for development expenditure to schools: religious, Chinese-type, Tamil national, missionary and government-assisted.

* The government will also strengthen the curriculum and appoint 800 pre-school graduate teachers.

* Government will increase pre-school enrollment rate to a targeted 72% by end-2011 through an additional 1,700.

* RM213 million is allocated to reward high-performance schools.

* RM6.4 billion is allocated for development expenditure to build and upgrade schools, hostels, facilities and equipment.

* Government will establish a Talent Corporation under the Prime Minister’s Office in early 2011.

* RM29.3 billion allocated for Ministry of Education, RM10.2 billion for Ministry of Higher Education and RM627 million for Ministry of Human Resources.

* The government proposes that the rate of service tax be increased from 5% to 6%.

* RM200 million is allocated to purchase creative products such as high quality locally-produced films, dramas and documentaries.

* For Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy, RM93 million is allocated for facilities.

* RM178 million is allocated for the East Coast Economic Region projects.

* RM133 million is allocated for the Northern Corridor Economic Region.

* For Iskandar Malaysia, a sum of RM339 million is allocated.

* Corridor and regional development will be accelerated. The government has allocated RM850 million for infrastructure support.

* The government proposes that sales tax be exempted on all types of mobile phones.

* Import duty and sales tax exemption on broadband equipment are also extended for two years until 2012.

* Multimedia Development Corridor programme allocated RM119 million. Focus is on creating an innovative digital economy.

* RM127 million to be allocated to support domestic oleo derivatives companies and RM23.3 million to expand downstream palm oil industries.

* Measures include encouraging replanting activity to replace aged trees with high quality new clones through RM297 million.

* In efforts to propel the palm oil and related products industry, several measures will be implemented.

* The government proposes that import duty on approximately 300 goods preferred by tourists and locals, at 5% to 30% be abolished.

* To support the tourism industry, the government will allocate RM100 million.

* RM3 billion eco-nature resort Nexus Karambunai in Sabah to commence in 2011.

* Infrastructure facilities to be allocated RM85 million to facilitate construction of hotels and resorts in remote areas.

* The government allocates RM3.8bn in 2011 to increase productivity and generate higher returns in the agriculture sector.

* The government will implement the Programme on Blending of Biofuels with Petroleum Diesel (B5 Programme) in June 2011.

* Malaysia is committed to reducing carbon emission intensity to preserve the environment.

* Tax exemption on income from trading of Certified Emission Reductions certificate to extend until year of assessment 2012.

* Hundred percent import duty and excise exemption for hybrid vehicles. To further encourage ownership of hybrid cars, import duty and excise duty exemption will be extended until Dec 31, 2011.

* The government is committed to develop green technology to ensure sustainable development.

* The government will allocate RM146 million to support the oil, gas and energy industry.

* A sum of RM857 million is allocated for local E&E companies to compete at the international level.

* Existing income tax relief of up to RM6,000 for employees contributions to EPF will extend to Private Pension Fund contributions.

* To revitalise capital market activities, the government will launch a Private Pension Fund in 2011.

* The Malaysian Technology Development Corporation will be provided a start-up fund amounting to RM100 million to provide soft loans.

* The government will provide Entrepreneurship Enhancement Training Programme to train 500 technopreneurs and attract more angel investors.

* Efforts will be taken to strengthen Malaysia's position as a premier Islamic capital market.

* The government will implement bold measures to revitalise the domestic capital market.

* A new landmark, Warisan Merdeka, expected to be completed in 2020, will include a 100-storey tower, the tallest in Malaysia.

* Another major project is the development of the Malaysian Rubber Board land in Sungai Buloh covering an area of 2,680 acres.

* Greater KL MRT to be implemented from 2011. When complete, public transport utilisation rate expected to rise to at least 40%.

* Another project identified is the Academic Medical Centre. This project involves private investment of RM2 billion.

* Development of International Islamic University Malaysia Teaching hospital in Kuantan; Women and Children's hospital.

* Construction of a 300-megawatt Combined-Cycle Gas Power Plant in Kimanis, Sabah.

* Construction of highways such as the Ampang-Cheras-Pandan Elevated Highway.

Also Read:-

• Government revises growth rate for 2010 to seven per cent from six per cent previously.
  

• Income per capita to increase 6.1 per cent to RM28,000.

• Private investment to expand 12.5 per cent to RM86 billion.

• Twelve National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs) to generate over RM1.3 trillion in investment and create 3.3 million job opportunities.

• Government to provide allocation as a tipping point for infrastructure support to ensure viability of private sector-led projects.

• Several public-private partnership (PPP) projects under the 10MP to be implemented in 2011 via a RM12.5 billion private investment.

• The Academic Medical Centre, a joint-venture between Academic Medical Centre Sdn Bhd and John Hopkins Medical International as well as Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland, is another identified PPP project with RM2 billion private investment.

• Government to consider special incentive packages to attract investors to the Kuala Lumpur International Financial District (KLIFD).

• The Mass Rapid Transit project will be implemented beginning 2011 with private investment of RM40 billion and to complete by 2020.

• The Employees Provident Fund to undertake mixed development at the identified Malaysian Rubber Board land in Sungai Buloh with an estimated cost of RM10 billion, to be completed by 2025.

• To support financial liberalisation policy, the government will implement bold measures to revitalise the domestic capital market particularly diversifying investment products, liberalising equity holding requirements and investment limits, providing attractive incentives as well as enhancing cooperation with foreign bourses.

• Government-Linked Investment Companies (GLIC) to divest shareholdings in major companies listed on Bursa Malaysia and are allowed to increase investment in overseas markets.

• Bursa Malaysia to launch Sukuk and conventional bonds to meet retail investors' demand for fixed income instruments.

• Securities Commission to offer three new stockbroking licences to eligible local, foreign or joint-venture companies.

• Bursa Malaysia to develop an international board to enable foreign securities to be listed including syariah-compliant products.

• Tax deduction on expenses for the issuance of Islamic securities which adopt the principles of Murabahah and Bai' Bithaman Ajil based on tawarru.

• Double tax deducation on takaful contributions for export credit.

• Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) to provide a start-up fund of RM100 million to provide soft loans which allow loan repayments only after the companies generate income.

• Bumiputera Property Trust Foundation (BPTF) to launch a syariah-compliant Bumiputera Property Trust Scheme of RM1 billion.

• Private pension fund to be launched in 2011 to benefit private sector employees and the self-employed.

• Existing income tax relief of up to RM6,000 for employees' contributions to the EPF will be extended to the contributions made to the Private Pension Fund, including the self-employed. Employers will also be given tax deduction on contributions made on behalf of their employees.

• A sum of RM857 million allocated for local companies to invest in high value-added activities, particularly in Penang and the Kulim High-Tech Park in Kedah.

• Government allocates RM146 million to support oil, gas and energy industry. Among projects to be implemented include the establishment of the Oil Field Services and Equipment Centre in Johor with private investment of RM6 billion over a period of 10 years.

• Petronas will implement a regasification project with an investment of RM3 billion in Melaka and will be operational in 2012.

• Pioneer Status and Investment Tax Allowance for the generation of energy from renewable sources and energy efficiency activities to be extended until Dec 31, 2015.

• Import duty and sales tax exemption on equipment for the generation of energy from renewable sources and energy efficiency to be extended until Dec 31, 2012.

• Tax exemption on the income derived from trading of Certified Emission Reductions certificate to be extended until year of assessment 2012.

• Import duty and excise duty exemption duty to franchise holders of hybrid cars will be extended until Dec 31, 2011 with excise duty to be given full exemption. This incentive is also extended to electric cars as well as hybrid and electric motorcycles.

• Government will implement the Feed in Tariff (FiT) mechanism under the Renewable Energy (RE) Act to allow electricity generated from RE by individuals and independent providers to be sold to electricity utility companies.

• Government will extend the investment allowance period for the last mile broadband service providers. In addition, import duty and sales tax exemption on broadband equipment are also extended for two years until 2012.

• A sum of RM91 million is allocated for capacity building in the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services industry, aerospace and aeronautical engineering training programmes as well as promotion of business outsourcing services.

• Government allocates RM850 million for infrastructure support for corridor and regional development. Iskandar Malaysia (RM339 million), Northern Corridor Economic Region (RM133 million), East Coast Economic Region (RM178 million), Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (RM93 million), Sabah Development Corridor (RM110 million).

• A sum of RM411 million is allocated for the research, development and commercialisation activities.

• A sum of RM71 million is allocated for Special Innovation Unit (UNIK).

• The new Insolvency Act will consolidate the Bankruptcy Act 1967 and Part 10 of the Companies Act 1965, including introduction of provision relating to relief mechanism for companies and individuals with financial problems. The review will also involve amending the current minimum bankruptcy limit of RM30,000.

• A sum of RM200 million is allocated to purchase creative products such as high quality locally-produced films, dramas and documentaries.

• Allocation of RM212 billion for Budget 2011 of which RM162.8 billion is for operating expenditure and RM49.2 billion for development expenditure.

• Federal government revenue collection to increase 2.3 per cent to RM165.8 billion in 2011 and its deficit to decline to 5.4 per cent of GDP compared with 5.6 per cent in 2010.