BN eyes reducing prices of food items, increasing incomes
KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 (Bernama) --The Barisan Nasional (BN) has vowed to minimise the involvement of middlemen in agricultural and fishery products in order to reduce the prices of basic food items and increase the income of farmers and fishermen.
It also intends to transform the agriculture sector into a high-income industry through the use of latest technologies to enhance the country's food production.
These are among efforts to boost the rakyat's (people's) economy contained in the BN manifesto for the 14th general election unveiled by Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today.
Themed 'With BN For A Greater Malaysia', the document touched on BN's intention to raise the minimum wage in phases to at least RM1,500 within five years.
The coalition also pledged to establish a Fair Works Commission to ensure that salary levels of private sector workers were more equitable.
The manifesto also contained these other pledges:
- Enhancing the well-being of employees of Government Linked Companies and Government-Linked Investment Companies who earn RM2,500 and below through expanded insurance coverage, increased healthcare benefits and increased cost of living allowance.
- Introducing special student discount cards to reduce the cost of transportation, government services and education-related necessities.
- Empowering consumerism through direct allocations to consumer associations.
- Amending the Price Control and Anti Profiteering Act to enhance the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry's authority to take action against traders that make excessive profits.
- Increasing the activation price for the Rubber Production Incentive (IPG) to safeguard the welfare of rubber smallholders.
- Increasing the Monsoon Season Aid for rubber smallholders.
- Building 20 fish markets throughout the country.
- Expanding the funds for the Agricultural Assistance Scheme and replanting of palm oil, rubber, cocoa and kenaf smallholders.
- Introducing multi-tiered dividend and bonus rates for government-linked investment funds and unit trust funds such as PNB, Tabung Haji, LTAT and other GLIC's (except EPF) for the purpose of fairer distribution.
- Allocating a special assistance scheme worth RM222 million for Felcra, Kesedar and Ketengah settlers.
- Reducing the maximum limit on interest rates and late payment charges for credit cards.
- Revising individual and corporate income tax rates to ensure Malaysia remains competitive in the regional market.
- Extending the income tax exemption period for parents of National Education Savings Scheme (SSPN) account holders.
- Implementing the Veteran Annuity Scheme to assist armed forces officers who are not enrolled in the pension scheme so that they receive monthly payments upon retirement.
- Providing a Special Assistance of RM600 a year for ATM veterans (aged 60 years and above) who don't receive pensions or BR1M.
- Providing an individual tax incentive of RM1,000 a year for those who contribute towards the development of national cultural arts.
- Allocating RM3 million for the Art Practitioners Welfare Fund every five years.
- Providing a grant of RM5 million every five years to activists of heritage bodies.
- Encouraging arts and culture in society to flourish by providing venues such as the Cultural and Arts Centre.
- Establishing a RM10 million welfare fund to assist cultural groups and creative industries.
- Increasing the amount of Content Malaysia Pitching Centre's creative micro grants to RM10,000 from the existing RM5,000.
- Strengthening the socio-economic status of Indian community through the Prime Minister's Department's Socioeconomic Development of Indian Community Unit (SEDIC) with continuous funding, skills and entrepreneurship training and education to elevate the Indian community.
-- BERNAMA
