Malaysian Mirror Summary: 'Rolling plan' for 10MP projects

'Rolling plan' for 10MP projects
Thursday, 10 June 2010 11:42
KUALA LUMPUR – Beginning with the 10th Malaysia Plan, programmes and projects approved for development will be carried out on a 'rolling plan' basis.  With this approach, allocation for 10MP programmes and projects will be provided on a two-year basis beginning 2011-2012. This allows commitment to be made based on the financial position of the Government and provides flexibility to respond to new priorities and changes in the global and domestic economic environment. Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who tabled the 10MP at te Dewan Rakyat Thursday, said the detailed list of the programmes and projects for the first rolling plan will be ready by the end of August. Old biz rules to be abolished Najib, who is also Finance Minister, also disclosed that business regulations which are outdated will be abolished. Towards this end, the Malaysian Productivity Corporation (MPC) will be restructured to spearhead a comprehensive review of business regulations and improve processes and procedures to increase productivity and competitiveness of major economic sectors. In addition, considering that healthy competition is needed to make the economy more efficient and dynamic, a Competition Law will be introduced to provide a regulatory framework against market manipulation and cartel practices that may affect market efficiency. A Competition Commission and Appeal Tribunal will be established to ensure more orderly and effective implementation of the law. Najib also said smart and effective partnerships between the public and private sectors will be established to drive the economic transformation agenda. This new wave of public-private partnership will ensure equitable sharing of risks and returns. To date, 52 high-impact projects have been identified for implementation. Folliwing are more programmes that were highlighted in Najib's presentation of the 10MP: BUMIPUTERA ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION * 30% target bumiputera corporate equity remains * Develop a bumiputera commercial and industrial community * Create stronger and more competitive industry champions * Broadening wealth ownership to ensure sustainability * Promoting bumiputera representation in high-paying jobs through enhanced capability building and demand-side incentives EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING  * To grow at 2.4% yearly to create 1.4 million jobs mostly in services sector * Employment to reach 13.2 million jobs in 2015 * Full employment status with unemployment rate of 3.1% in 2015   * Standardised and recognition of technical education and vocational training by Malaysian Skills Certificate * RM150mil to train 20,000 school dropouts * RM7.5mil to train coaches, instructors and facilitators * Strengthening performance culture in universities REFORMING LABOUR MARKET * More flexible labour market * Upgrade skills of existing workforce * Enhance Malaysia's ability to attract and retain top talent * RM80mil for Relief Fund for Loss of Employment from 2010 to 2012 to provide assistance to workers retrenched without compensation * Part-Time Work Regulations under Employment Act 1955 to be introduced to tap workforce from amongst housewives, retirees and disabled persons * Increase female labour force from 46% in 2010 to 55% in 2015 * RM500mil each to provide loans to workers and school leavers for training and skills upgrading * RM50mil to continue the matching grants for training and skills upgrading of small and medium enterprise employees * RM50mil to fund apprenticeships involving more than 8,000 students * RM50mil to co-sponsor employees to obtain industrial PhDs * RM350mil allocated to continue programme of partial financial assistance for PhDs in local universities started in 2009 INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT PRODUCTIVITY * Broadband penetration of 75% by 2015 * RM2.7bil to build roads and rails leading to key ports and airports to improve trade efficiency and logistics systems * Energy security through development of alternative sources i.e. hydro, coal and liquified natural gas by 2015   SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT * Elevate livelihood of 40% of households * Ensure bumiputera economic participation * Reduce poverty from 3.8% in 2009 to 2% in 2015 * Raise average monthly income of bottom 40% of households from RM1,440 in 2009 to RM2,300 in 2015 * Increase percentage of SPM qualification and above in bottom 40% of households from 30% in 2009 to 45% in 2015 * Education assistance for children from bottom 40% of households SOCIAL SAFETY NET * Housing assistance for rural poor * Affordable housing and low-cost housing expanded for urban/semi-urban poor * Income support for eligible groups within 40% of households when subsidies are restructured * Income support for disabled old and single mothers * Encourage GLCs to tailor CSR programmes to target the needy * 1Malaysia clinics expanded to urban poor and other underserved areas SPECIAL TARGET GROUPS * Halve poverty among Orang Asli communities in Peninsular Malaysia to 25% in 2015 * Reduce poverty among Sabah ethnic minorities from 22.8% to 12% and Sarawak ethnic minorities from 6.4% to 3% * Financial assistance to Chinese new villages to renew land lease, upgrade homes and fund business * Improve access to basic amenities in estates and re-skilling programmes for displayed estate workers BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE * 6,312 km of new roads in Peninsular Malaysia, 2,540km in Sabah and 2,819 km in Sarawak to benefit 3.3 million people nation-wide * Clean water to 99% rural households in Peninsular Malaysia, 98% in Sabah and 95% in Sarawak * Electricity for rural areas almost 100% in Peninsular Malaysia and 99% in Sabah and Sarawak * At least one 1Malaysia telecentre in every sub-district (mukim) to promote broadband QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING * 161,00 new units of public housing * Housing designs to incorporate Green Building design and technology * 78,000 units low-cost public housing units for qualified individuals of less than RM2,500 per month * One federal agency responsible for federally-funded housing instead of several ministries and agencies * RM500mil to set up Housing Maintenance Fund to assist residents of both public and private low-cost houses for major repair and maintenance based on 50-50 matching grants from residents * Government to continue assistance to rehabilitate abandoned projects SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT * Federal government assumes full responsibility of solid waste management from local authorities * Collection of household solid waste to be privatise to three concessionaires with contract negotiations expected to be completed by end 2010 * Other private operators to be licensed to operate solid waste management and public cleansing services * Waste collection for households twice a week and daily for wet markets * Existing 112 unsanitary landfills to be closed and rehabilitated, some to be upgraded to sanitary landfills SAFER STREETS AND SAFER COMMUNITIES * RM2.04bil for programmes to encourage volunteerism to fight crime * Reduce crime index by 5% yearly 2015 to cut overall crime by a quarter * Increase volunteer police by 5,000 by 2015 * RM2.4bil to upgrade police stations, living quarters and improve career prospects to motivate police * Improve effectiveness of treatment of drug addicts to reduce crimes driven by drug abuse * RM120mil to support volunteer patrolling scheme under Rukun Tetangga * Expand Rakan Cop scheme for citizens to report crimes or suspicious behvaiour via SMS * RM150 million allocated for Safe Cities Programme