Najib unveils ‘feel good’ Budget

Taken from Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak today unveiled Budget 2012 in the Dewan Rakyat, which offered incentives and goodies for the lower and middle-income groups.

In his televised speech, Najib said the total revenue for 2012 is forecast to increase 1.9% to RM186.9 billion and the deficit to decrease to 4.7% of GDP from 5.4%.

Last year, Najib said the FDI (foreign direct investment) growth was the strongest in Asia and in the first six months of this year, it had already reached RM21.2 billion.

Below are some of the salient points from the budget, themed: “National Transformation Policy: Welfare for the Rakyat, Well-Being of the Nation.”

• Senior citizens aged 60 years and above will be exempted from outpatient registration fees at government hospitals and health clinics.
• RM15 million will be allocated to build 150 futsal courts to achieve the “One Court for One Mukim” target.
• RM200 million will be allocated to train youths who have left school through the SAY 1Malaysia programme.
• The government will establish MyCreative Venture Capital with an initial fund of RM200 million.
• To prevent cervical cancer, the government will provide free Human Papilloma Virus immunisation nationwide.
• A training allocation of RM10 million will be provided for women to develop leadership and managerial skills.
• To assist the homeless, the government established a social assistance centre known as Anjung Singgah.
• The National Legal Aid Foundation will ensure that every individual who is charged in court will be given free legal aid.
• To assist taxi owners facing increased operating costs, measures will be introduced including tax exemptions on taxis.
• Teraju will coordinate and drive the transformation and strengthen Bumiputera’s participation in business.
• Hospital Kuala Lumpur – the oldest in Malaysia – will be upgraded to be the country’s premier hospital.
• Hospitals will be upgraded and constructed as well as 81 rural health clinics upgraded and 50 new 1Malaysia clinics will be launched.
• Healthcare will be allocated RM15 billion operating expenditure and RM1.8 billion development expenditure.
• The government will establish the Special Housing Fund for fishermen to build and refurbish houses.
• The Rumah Mesra Rakyat (SPNB) programme will be continued. SPNB will be asked to build 10,000 units next year.
• The government will continue to implement the Program Perumahan Rakyat by building 75,000 units of affordable houses.
• The government will identify areas in the vicinity of MRT, LRT and other public transport to be developed by PR1MA.
• The My First Home Scheme will be expanded to increase the limit of house prices from a maximum of RM220,000 to RM400,000.
• Some 500,000 will benefit from KAR1SMA, which provides assistance to poor senior citizens and children and disabled people.
• In the spirit of “People First,” all subsidies, incentives and assistance totalling RM33.2 billion will be continued.
• The government is mindful of the plight of the rakyat due to rising food prices and will take measures to address this.
• A sum of RM3,000 will be given to ex-members of the special constable and auxiliary police as well as widows and widowers.
• A special programme will be introduced for 175,000 army personnel who are not eligible for pensions.
• Civil servants will be offered tuition fee assistance for part-time studies, including 5,000 masters and 500 doctoral scholarships.
• Starting next year, the annual increment for civil servants will be increased between RM80 and RM320 according to grades.
• Budget 2012 will transform the civil service to be dynamic and responsive, introducing changes to remuneration and recruitment.
• About 600,000 government pensioners will benefit from an additional annual pension increment of 2%.
• The government will extend the compulsory retirement age from 58 to 60 to optimise civil servants’ contribution.
• Private schools registered with the Education Ministry will be given incentives including an Investment Tax Allowance.
• The government will expedite tax exemption approvals for educational institutions and all places of worship.
• To encourage private sector human capital development incentives including a double deduction on scholarships will be offered.
• A Rural Transformation Programme will be introduced so that rural areas can attract private investment and create employment.
• The government will expand the programme to supply clean water to the rural community in Sabah by RM50 million.
• Some RM400 million will be provided to upgrade the water supply infrastructure in selected Felda areas.
• To provide greater access to bank services for the rural population, Bank Simpanan Nasional will appoint agents in rural areas.
• Felda GVH will be listed on Bursa Malaysia by mid-2012 to raise funds for the company to become a global conglomerate.
• Felda settlers are expected to receive a windfall and the amount will be announced before listing.
• A RM2 billion syariah-compliant SME Financing Fund managed by selected Islamic banks will be established in 2012.
• A RM100 million SME Revitalisation Fund offering loans up to a maximum of RM1 million for entrepreneurs will be available from January 2012.
• Full exemption of import duty and excise duty on hybrid cars and electric cars will continue to be given until 2013.
• RM1 billion will be provided through a special fund for the construction, improvement and maintenance of schools.
• RM50.2 billion will be allocated to the education sector so that it can continue to develop talented, creative and innovative people.
• Payments for primary and secondary education will be abolished.
• In 2012, private investment is forecast to climb 15.9%, supported by foreign and domestic investment.
• GDP in the first six months of 2011 was 4.4%, driven by strong domestic consumption.
• In 2011, the economy is forecast to grow by 5-5.5%.
• The Kuala Lumpur International Financial District will be developed, with incentives including income tax exemptions for firms.
• The Treasury Management Centre will be established and offer incentives to develop Malaysia as a competitive financial centre.
• RM978 million will be allocated to accelerate the development in five regional corridors.
• RM13.6 billion has been allocated for the social sector, including education and training, welfare, housing and community development.

Wedding of the Year on 15th January, 2011.

 

Thanks to Antu Beduru

Antu Beduru is happy to inform Sarawakians that on last Sunday night (2nd January, 2011), a wedding reception was held in the United Arab Emirates. It was attended by no less than our Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Razak, his beautiful wife Rosmah Mansor and a host of dignitaries and members of royalty from Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and even within the Arab countries.

Whose wedding? Our very own beloved Chief Minister and his lovely new Lebanese wife! This wedding was the bersanding sebelah pengantin perempuan or wedding reception by the bride’s side. We were reliably informed that it was a glittering affair and the the groom looked positively youthful and his bride radiantly glorious, bedecked in the costliest jewels money can buy!

Unfortunately, we don’t have pictures of the event but we are trying our best to prepare to get pictures for the next big bersanding sebelah pengantin lelaki to be held on Saturday 15th January! We hear it is going to be a lavish billion dollar official State Banquet, no less!

Yes, Antu Beduru is happy to announce that Sarawak and Sarawakians will see the grandest WEDDING OF THE YEAR in two weeks’ time! In fact, we might even get to hear the News of the Century on the same day – the official stepping down of our beloved Chief Minister as he prepares to be our next Governor with his new blushing bride at his side as our TYT Toh Puan!

Who’s paying for this wedding? YOU of course, the tax payer!

1Malaysia

 

RM800 Million for the new Parliament building?

Taken from The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government plans to build a new Parliament building costing RM800mil in Putrajaya and preserving the existing one as a heritage building.Law Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said this in a written reply to Kota Melaka MP Sim Tong Him who had asked on Monday on the cost and time of completion of the restoration and upgrading of the existing Parliament building.Nazri said the new Parliament building, among others, would be more comfortable and would cater for the expanded number of MPs now.

The written reply actually said that the Cabinet had decided to have a new building in Putrajaya but when Nazri was asked about it at the lobby, he said the Cabinet was still considering the proposal.He said the final decision would be made only after looking at the Public Works Department’s study on the matter.Sim later told reporters at the lobby that the parliament building was a unique landmark.”This needs to be discussed with parliamentarians first before any decision is made,” he said.

The current Parliament house was built in September 1962 near the Kuala Lumpur Lake Gardens. The building cost RM18mil then and was the brainchild of Malaysia’s first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.The complex consists of two parts, the three-storey main building and its 18-storey tower annexe. Within the building are two national assembly halls, the Dewan Rakyat (Parliament) and Dewan Negara (Senate).

The tower, which houses the offices of ministers and MPs, is adjacent to the main building and is connected by a bridge.The Parliament house, with its old plumbing, electrical wiring and other facilities, has come under more and more frequent repairs and upgrading in recent years.Meanwhile, Liew Chin Tong (DAP-Bukit Bendera) said it was time for the Government to look into rejuvenating Kuala Lumpur and not run away from it in the name of building Putrajaya or creating a Greater Kuala Lumpur.”The Parliament House is an integral part of Kuala Lumpur. It should never be displaced as such,” he said in a statement.Liew also expressed disappointment that the matter was not brought before the bi-partisan House Committee.”The Cabinet should not usurp the role of the House Committee.

It is sad that the Parliament cannot even decide for itself where it is located and how its affairs should be conducted,” he said.Liew also said it would be cheaper to build auxiliary buildings around the existing Parliament House to accommodate the increased needs of space

Pengayau comment

Wowww!!!Satu Lagi Projek Kerajaan Barisan Nasional..I bet Najib felt offended by Taibs “Monument of Greed” at the Kuching Waterfront and he choose to built another one which should be better and greater!..Well done!!!Despite Idris Jala saying that Malaysia will go bankcrupt by 2019 if the Government keep on subsidiesing fuel and many others but they still have the money to fund this Project.Over run cost for Bakun Dam is over RM1Billion and its all Taxpayers money!!!

If im not mistaken,more or less 40% of National Coffers came from Petronas and i believe that it came from our Oil&Gas resources in Sabah and Sarawak though we all know that Petronas has their JV Exploration in other countries as well.

Other than that,what is our upmost concern is TaxPayers money!!Remember when they set up the Team Formula One 1Malaysia recently?Who’s money is that?With over RM300 million to built a R&D Center in Sepang and over RM126 Million per year for maintanance.Im not very sure with the figure but it is roughly arround that.That is during the Global Economic Downturn in 2008

Though now we are in the process of recovering from the economic downturn,im in a view that those money should been spend in a more wiser way.Why do we need a new Parliament Building while the existing one is still in good condition?They can built a new building and keep the old one as National Heritage and i agree with that but it is a matter of timing!!Not now!!

Why dont they allocate that RM800 Million as an extra Allocations for Sarawak under the 10 MP?Since Sabah&Sarawak are still lack in terms of basic Infrastructure and also we are BN Safed Deposits in every sense of words!!  From day to day,im getting sick and tired of this Government!!There is so much money that has being wasted!To make it simple,Bad Governance!!!Its ok if they want to built a new Parliament Building but now is not the right time.We can used that Fund for other Urgent and Important purposes..

I dont see there is a need to built a new Parliament Building.This is a waste of Public Funds!!I dont know what is inside thise UMNO Goons head.It is very obvious that we(Sabah&Sarawak) being neglected.By right,we should be given priority because we are still very far left behind in terms od development.Even PM himself ask Sarawakian on what do they want under 10MP!!

It is so sad to see that we have been neglected after 47 years.That money could be spend to provide basic infrastructure in Sabah&Sarawak instead of being wasted and being siphoned by the UMNO/BN Ruling Elitist

Tidak boleh halang demo isu ‘Allah’: Najib

Taken from MalaysiaKini

Kerajaan tidak akan menghalang orang ramai yang ingin mengadakan perhimpunan di masjid-masjid selepas solat Jumaat esok bagi membantah mingguan Katholik menggunakan nama ‘Allah’, kata perdana menteri.

Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak diminta mengulas sama ada kerajaan mengamalkan sikap berbeza terhadap kumpulan tertentu yang menganjurkan demonstrasi.

Bantahan terhadap penggunaan kalimah ‘Allah’ dalam Herald The Catholic Weekly terus marak walaupun Najib sebelumnya menyeru semua pihak bertenang.

Kes tersebut kini di peringkat rayuan. Semalam, mahkamah menangguhkan perintah membenarkan mingguan itu berbuat demikian setelah dimohon oleh Kementerian Dalam Negeri.

Selain Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) merancang mengadakan bantahan di seluruh negara, sebuah lagi persatuan berpengaruh Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Dakwah Islamiah (Pekida) juga akan menganjurkan bantahan yang sama.

Bantahan dua NGO Melayu dijadual diadakan di Masjid Negara.

Dua badan Islam berpengaruh Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim) dan Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM) akan berhimpun di masjid Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur pada waktu yang sama.

Pada 31 Disember lalu, keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur membenarkan Herald berbuat demikian dalam penerbitannya, mengundang reaksi negatif masyarakat Islam.

Isu tersebut pada mulanya dijangkakan akan reda apabila perdana menteri meminta umat Islam bertenang dan tidak terlalu “memanaskan” isu sensitif tersebut kerana kerajaan akan menanganinya sebaik mungkin.

Sehari selepas arahan Najib dibuat, Pemuda Umno Selangor yang turut bercadang mengadakan perhimpunan besar-besaran esok menangguhkan hasrat tersebut.