The following are the salient points in Finance Minister Najib Abdul Razak's 2009 Budget winding up speech in parliament today.

It is noted in the speech that a capital injection of RM7 billion saved from the oil subsidies would be channelled into projects directed towards the well-being of the people.

Housing loan

RM1.2 billion out of the RM7 billion allocations would be channeled for the construction of low-cost and medium-cost houses.

The allocated amount is expected to enable Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB), housing development company, to generate 6,500 housing units, while 4,000 houses will be built under the Public Housing Programme of the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

The amount is also expected to suffice the construction of 15,000 units that range from RM30,000 and RM35,000 in the peninsula while housing units between the range of RM35,000 and RM40,000 are to be built in Sabah and Sarawak.

Around 100 houses under the Public Housing Programme for the hardcore poor would also be built in every district in the country.

Besides that, Prokhas - a subsidiary of the Finance Ministry - is expected to repair and renovate 15,000 houses while Khazanah Nasional would be monitoring the repair of 5,000 houses.

Maintenance works

RM500 million is allocated and will be divided equally for the refurbishment of police stations and police quarters, as well as army camps and their living quarters.

An allocation of RM600 million has been set aside for small projects under the Public Infrastructure Maintenance (PIAS) which would be used for repairing village roads, building of community halls and small bridges.

Another sum of RM500 million is assigned for the preservation and repair of public amenities such as schools, hospitals and roads.

An allotment of RM500 million is also set aside for upgrading and construction of rural roads and village roads including those in Sabah and Sarawak.

Allocation for schools

A sum of RM200 million would be allocated to four groups of schools. RM50 million for fully-aided religious schools, RM50 million for mission schools, RM50 million for Chinese schools and RM50 million for Tamil schools.

Skills training programmes

An allocation of RM300 million is made for creation of funds and to implement skills training programmes in order to meet employers’ needs especially in the Development Corridors. The distribution of funds will be streamlined with the needs of authorities for Development Corridors, state skills development centres and other related organisations. Skills training will focus on tourism, health, construction and business process outsourcing sectors.

Public transport

The government has realised that the cost of living and transportation is rising. Thus, it will allocate RM500 million for maintenance costs and to strengthen the public transport especially the LRT, Komuter and bus systems in urban areas.

As the prime minister mentioned in his Budget 2009 speech, the government is committed to extending the public transportation system to become more efficient and reliable. This will include projects to upgrade the LRT Kelana Jaya and Ampang lines, and extension of the commuter rail service in the Klang Valley with an additional line from Kota Damansara to Cheras. All this will benefit more than one million users.

Investment funds

A total of RM1.5 billion ringgit is allocated for investment funds to attract more private sector investors. The purpose is to attract private investment activity for greater competitiveness. The focus will be on value-added and big-impact strategic sectors in terms of investment, technology and knowledge workers.

The funds will be used to give out grants, easy loans or capital equity to investors. Such measures have been successful in attracting investors in high-technology including Dell, Hewlett Packard and Satyam to Cyberjaya, with value-added manufacturing sectors such as solar panel production, aerospace industry and airplane parts.

High-speed broadband project

RM400 million is allocated to expedite the high-speed broadband project implementation. This project is vital to ensure the country’s competitiveness. Such infrastructure will raise efficiency and effectiveness in economic activities and businesses. It will also improve the quality of living of people while stimulating private investment in the high-technology sector.

It will further contribute to GDP growth and provide more job opportunities. At the end of 2009, the service will be provided to 300,000 premises especially in the Klang Valley and industrial areas such as Bayan Baru, Senai and Kulim.

The opposition has suggested that this project be reviewed. But, as a matter of fact, if we do not speed up implementation, the country will be left behind in the development of modern technology.

Training programmes

RM200 million to build an exemplary human capital through various training programmes that would be managed by the relevant ministries. This allocation is to support programmes offered by the private training institutes and its trainees who are youth from all races. The names of the trainees could be submitted to the various ministries like the Youth and Sports Ministry, the Entrepreneur Development, and Cooperatives, Human Resource and Family and Women Development.

Rakan Muda

RM100 million to strengthen the youth through various new programmes like Rakan Muda in schools, Rakan Muda sectoral involving youth in Chinese new towns, estates for Indians, Orang Asli kampungs and the indigenous communities in Sabah and Sarawak.

Abandoned housing projects

RM200 million to revitalise abandoned housing projects in strategic areas and development. This project would be managed by Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad.

Beautify selected small towns

RM100 million to increase commercial premises and beautify selected small towns in the country. This would help produce more small and medium entrepreneurs to market their domestic products. This programme would be implemented by Mara and the Entrepreneur Development and Co-operatives Ministry.

Early education for kids

RM200 million to produce quality future generation including ensuring their early education for children between the ages of 1 to 6. This includes programmes like Permata Negara, Kemas kindergartens and Unity kindergartens and various pre-school classes.