1. Enforcement officers of various agencies to get benefits and remunerations provided for security personnel and their families, if injured and die in line of duty.
2. Several departments of police force to be reviewed to increase their capacity and effectiveness through provision of equipment and special training.
3. Government to increase and strengthen security and enforcement following recent spate of hijacking, piracy and gangsterism, including "tonto" activities.
4. Orang asli to be given priority under the SPNB low and medium cost housing scheme as well as soft loans to buy these houses.
5. Village micro-credit scheme to be extended to orang asli.
6. 10 percent hike in import and excise duties on liquor. Usage of banderol & security ink on liqour to be implemented.
7. Use of special stickers or banderol and security ink to curb smuggling of cigarettes.
8. 20 percent increase in import and excise duties on cigarettes & other tobacco products to RM259 from RM216 per kg and to RM58 from RM48 per kg, respectively.
9. Pensioners to get discount on selected medicines through Pharma niaga's special counter.
10. To improve healthcare, 10 percent import duty on health supplements to be abolished.
11. Companies must bear medical costs of their employees.
12. Insurance companies encouraged to widen coverage to more M'sians by providing lower premiums.
13. To increase diagnosis and monitoring of infectious diseases, such as SARS, tuberculosis, leprosy and dengue, RM3 mln would be allocated.
14. RM9 bln allocated to provide quality medical services to all M'sians, up 20.5 percent from 2003.
15. RM215 mln to be allocated for tourism promotional activities.
16. Promotional efforts to focus on regional markets, especially China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India and Asean countries & will be intensified in West Asia and new markets such as Pakistan, Indo-China and New Zealand.
17. Malaysian tourism promotion board will be restructured to undertake a more systematic and effective marketing and communications programmes.
18. A second round of pioneer status or investment tax allowance to be given for the tourism industry, including hotel operators that undertake expansion, modernisation and renovation.
19. Income received by researchers from research activity to be given 50 percent tax exemption for five years. At same time, no charges impose on patents registered by local researchers.
20. SIRIM to be restructured to become the focal point to match R&D with market demand and match them with R&D capacity in universities and research institutions.
21. Three new research institutions to be formed in biovalley, Cyberjaya, specifically in biotechnology.
22. Employers who employ unemployed graduates registered with the economic planning unit to be given double tax deduction for two years.
23. Government-owned companies, such as TNB and Telekom will also provide technical and vocational training programmes at their training centre.
24. Pusat Giat MARA to be upgraded as community colleges with emphasis on vocational training.
25. A new agency a la PTPN to be established to manage the RM500 mln skills development fund.
26. RM319 mln provided to increase quality and quantity of skilled manpower.
27. PTPN loans also considered for students pursuing twinning programmes abroad for final year studies.
28. Students wishing to pursue Islamic studies at foreign universities can borrow from PTPN, on conditions the institutions are recognised by government.
29. PTPN repayment schedule to be restructured to allow repayment at five percent of their monthly income for the first five years and 10 percent for the balance repayment period.
30. Interest rate on loans of Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPN) to be cut to three percent from four percent. Repayment starts on third year after employment.
31. Fees or honorarium received by lecturers invited by the national accreditation board to assist in undertaking validation, moderation or accreditation of franchised education programmes, to be exempted from income tax.
32. RM1.8 bln allocated for primary and secondary schools, hostels & teachers's quarters, RM637 mln for school computerisation and RM490 mln for financing infrastructure requirements of public institutions of higher learning.
33. Education sector to receive continued priority with an allocation of RM20.2 bln or a quarter of operating expenditure.
34. Another RM2.7 bln or 8.4 percent for development projects in the security sector.
35. In addition, RM11.2 bln or 34.9 percent for social sector namely education and training, health, welfare, community development, youth and sports projects.
36. Of the 2004 budget's proposed development expenditure, RM13.8 bln or 43.1 percent allocated for economic, infrastructure and industrial sector as well as rural electricity and water supply programmes.
37. Adoption of two-year budget since Budget 2002 resulted in speedier implementation of development projects and no shortfall in expenditure as in previous years.
38. Allocation for government agencies would be based on their financial positions to ensure effective distribution of government funds. Agencies with high uncommitted reserves would have to utilise their reserve to finance their programmes.
39. Objective of a balance budget could not be achieved in 2005 due to regional financial crisis, Sept 11 event, geo-political tensions in the Middle East, war in Iraq and SARS outbreak. But government committed to attain it in near term.
40. M'sia strongly opposes agenda to open up markets for government procurement, which is being discussed at the WTO forum in Cancun, Mexico.
41. Government, through its own companies will intensify efforts to achieve New Economic Policy (NEP) objective, especially through vendor and umbrella system, which will be reviewed.
42. Government to ensure conducive environment, including R&D development, provision of funds, increased promotional and marketing efforts, provision of logistics services and improved public sector delivery system to achieve sovereign competitiveness.
43. Vendor and umbrella system will be reviewed as part of move to promote domestic industries capable of competing in international market.
44. To promote domestic industries, the government will require Tenaga Nasional, Telekom, Proton and Petronas as well as Khazanah and PNB companies and other govt cos to spearhead the development of domestic products and technologies in their respective sectors.
45. Government to review procurement system. Use of local content and value-added to be given due consideration in tender evaluation.
46. Excise duties to be imposed on imported cars when import duties are reduced from Jan 1, 2004. Consumers encouraged to buy cars now.
47. Strengthens social agenda and caring society to enhance quality of life and well being of M'sians.
48. Enhance the nation's competitiveness to enable M'sia to be a truly trading nation.
49. Monetary policy that supports and harness private consumption and investment.
50. Monetary policy that supports and harness private consumption and investment
51. Fiscal consolidation towards a balanced budget in near term.
52. Accelerate domestic private sector and stimulate services to spearhead economic growth.
53. Fund for the development and promotion of Malaysian brands would be increased by an additional RM100 mln.
54. Fund for the development and promotion of Malaysian brands would be increased by an additional RM100 mln.
55. Income derived by operating headquarters (OHQS) from the provision of services to its related companies in M'sia to get income tax exemption not exceeding 20 percent of its total income from its global operations.
56. Labuan offshore companies allowed to set up marketing offices in johor Baharu, which is rapidly developing with increasing number of multinational companies that have relocated operations there.
57. Multimedia Development Corporation's (MDC) role expanded to become a one-stop agency a la MIDA for selected services.
58. Malaysian Venture Capital management's (Mavcap) venture capital fund to be increased by RM300 mln to RM800 mln.
59. To encourage individuals to remit their income from their investment or savings abroad for domestic investment, individuals' s income remitted from abroad to get exemption, as presently enjoyed by companies.
60. For companies in Sabah & Sarawak and peninsular's eastern corridor pioneer status's income tax exemption to be raised to 100 percent from 85 percent and investment tax allowance to go up to 100 percent from 80 percent. The allowance could be fully deducted and not limited to 85 percent of the statutory income.
61. Existing companies using oil palm biomass get pioneer status with 100 percent tax exemption for 10 years on the increased income from reinvestment, and 100 percent investment tax allowance for five years on additional investment.
62. For companies producing goods using oil palm biomass, they get the rate of income tax exemption under the pioneer status raise to 100 percent for 10 years from 70 percent for five years. These companies also receive an increase in the rate of investment tax allowance to 100 percent for five years from 60 percent previously.
63. Locally-owned companies which reinvest in machinery and equipment to get pioneer status with 70 percent tax exemption on the increased income from reinvestment for a five-year period. These companies also get investment tax allowance of 60 percent on the additional investment for a period of five years.
64. Threshold for chargeable income of SMIs that is subjected to 20percent corporate tax as announced in 2003 budget, to be increase to RM500,000 from RM100,000. The move would provide SMIs with RM322 mln for reinvestment.
65. Government to encourage private sector initiatives to form trading houses for M'sia's export.
66. Matrade to immediately undertake roadshows, including export promotion on wheels to the West Asia and Africa.
67. RM100 mln launching grant for matrade to bring in expertise from the private sector, including expatriates to promote exports.
68. As part of efforts to redouble efforts to be a global trader, matrade will be corporatised.
69. Must promote private sector initiatives to produce local products with
70. Must export goods that we produce ourselves.
71. 88,000 applications for RM1.4 bln microcredit schemes were received of which 42, 000 applications valued at RM 430 mln have been approved.
72. Government will provide support by putting in place appropriate policies and funds and improve delivery system for Malaysian producers.
73. Necessary to create and design Malaysian brands that can be marketed abroad.
Bernama.com