BN prioritises on healthy lifestyle
KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 (Bernama) -- Healthy lifestyle is one of the main elements that was highlighted by the Barisan Nasional (BN) in maintaining the well-being of Malaysians across the country, in its 14th General Election Manifesto.
Among other things the party promises to increase the current individual income tax exemption rate for parents' medical expenses from RM5,000 to RM10,000,
It also promises to build the country's first Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) Veterans Hospital in Ipoh, which will benefit 300,000 veterans and continue to provide monthly electricity bill subsidies to more than one million consumers.
The Manifesto themed 'With BN, For A Greater Nation' which was unveiled here today by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak, who is also BN chaiman, has also listed the following promises:
- Upgrading the equipment and expertise at ATM Hospitals.
- Implementing food security policies to ensure sufficient access to safe and nutritious food. At the same time, this can reduce the nation's reliance on food imports.
- Building more polyclinics in military camps for the convenience of 60,000 ATM personnel and their families.
- Establishing the National Drugs Institute as a one-stop service centre for the rehabilitation of drug-addicts as well as a research centre for drug abuse.
- Expand employment opportunities for persons with disabilities by creating a special one-stop portal where their services can be marketed online.
- Increasing the representation of persons with disabilities in various sectors including becoming members of local councils and the Dewan Negara.
- Increasing tax incentive to companies that employ persons with disabilities.
- Upgrading the equipment and expertise at ATM Hospitals.
- Providing more benefits and access to affordable education and care services to those with special needs in every district.
- Providing a specific module on early intervention to families with autistic children in collaboration with PERMATA centres.
- Opening membership to special clubs and selected community programmes to retirees and senior citizens.
- Intensifying the Environmental Quality Monitoring Programme (EQMP) through efforts to filter floating particle pollution, enhancing enforcement activities and planning of development projects to make the air fresher and cleaner for the people.
- Enhancing flora and fauna preservation, forest protection, biodiversity of marine life and wildlife by introducing new laws on conservation and sustainable forest management.
- Introducing water laws through the application of National Integrated Centralised Management System to guarantee access to clean water for the people.
- Ensuring a balance between socioeconomic development, conservation and environmental protection so that profits from the national forest can benefit the community and be protected through the Access to Biological Resources and Benefit Sharing Act 2017.
- Realising Malaysia as a green Economy country through reduction of carbon emissions and generating energy through renewable sources.
- Encouraging the private sector to continue contributing towards the development of zoos, protection of wildlife, and beautification of public parks through fund-raising and government funds.
- Providing a more efficient garbage disposal and solid waste disposal service, especially in rural areas.
- Building more pocket parks in cities throughout the country.
- Developing and improving healthcare services in rural areas by increasing the number of specialist physicians, hospitals and 1Malaysia Clinics (K1M).
- Strengthening the capacity of the family health development division by expanding the free family doctor team concept to patients of chronic illnesses.
- Adding healthcare services such as haemodialysis, treatment aid fund and pensioner healthcare services.
- Upgrading and building new hospitals and health clinics with an increase in Mobile Medic Team members.
- Streamlining health and dental services to elderly and bedridden patients through home visits.
- Simplifying the health services system through online processes including registration, appointments scheduling, care referrals and treatment.
- Strengthening flood preparedness plans via implementation of 69 Flood Mitigation Masterplan (RTB) projects nationwide with a total cost of RM8.57 billion which benefits 1.5 million people.
- Introducing dual-function care centres for children and senior citizens.
- Assisting transit centres and expanding food relief programmes for the homeless.
- Transforming abandoned sites and dilapidated building into community recreational mental health issues.
- Improving the efficiency of emergency and ambulance services.
- Increasing the expertise and technological capabilities of the Communicable Disease Control Unit.
- Empowering the Communication for Behavioural Impact (COMBI) and National Empowering Healthy Community (KOSPEN) programmes throughout the country.
-- BERNAMA
