Target Groups Spend BR1M For Good Purposes- Chua Tee Yong

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- The government believes that recipients of the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) have spent the money for good purposes, such as to buy basic necessities.

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong said for the time being, the government did not intend to conduct a study to see how the money had been spent by the recipients, especially among the low-income households (B40).

"It is up to the recipients (how to spend the BR1M), and we are confident that most of the recipients in the B40 group, need the money to buy essentials," he said when replying to a question from Datuk Shabudin Yahaya (BN-Tasek Gelugor) in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Shabudin wanted to know about the government's action to ensure the BR1M's objective of easing the burden of the people, particularly the B40 group, was met.

Chua said the government had no plan to replace

BR1M with any form of vouchers or subsidies for fear that it would cause any other issues, such as the black economy.

"...and we see a report from the World Bank stating that direct cash is better than subsidies, as it could cause the issue of black economy," he said.

To a supplementary question from Shabudin on efforts to reduce the people's dependency on BR1M, especially among the B40 group, Chua said the government had implemented several programmes to improve the skills and standards of living of the people to enable them to enjoy higher income.

"In terms of increasing the B40 group's income, under the 2016 Budget and the 11th Malaysia Plan, the government has continued focusing on improving the people's skills through programmes such as vocational training and the 1Malaysia Training Scheme, as well as increasing the minimum wage.

"These are among the government's efforts to increase the people's income and reduce the Gini coefficient," he said.

To a supplementary question from Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid (PKR-Kuala Langat) on whether the government would raise the minimum wage, Chua said several factors must be taken into account in determining it.

Chua said if the minimum wage was raised again, it might affect the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as the sector employed nearly 52 per cent of the total workforce in the country.

He also said that since its introduction in 2012, the government had allocated a total of RM14 billion for BR1M, benefiting almost 7.4 million people each year.

-- BERNAMA

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Tee Yong: No study on how people spend BR1M

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has not carried out a study on how recipients spend their 1Malaysia Peoples Aid (BR1M), said Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong.

"No study has been conduct yet as there are still infrastructure improvements needed.

"However, we are confident that the aid received by those in the B40 category (households below RM3,885) are used to buy daily necessities," he said in Parliament.

Since BR1M was initiated in 2012, a total of RM14bil was channeled to some 7.4mil eligible recipeints.

Chua said this did not include the RM100 school aid and the RM250 1Malaysia Book voucher programmes.

Chua dismissed a suggestion by Abdullah Sani (PKR-Kuala Langat) that the Government increased taxes or minimum wages as means to redistribute wealth to those in the B40 category.

He said any increase in taxes would only add pressure to the 1.7 million taxpayers.

Chua added that the Government had to consider the impact on small and medium entreprises if minimum wage was further increased.

Gov’t has made RM5b in GST refunds, says Chua

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has, to-date, reimbursed approximately RM5 billion in Goods and Services Tax (GST) refunds to companies, said Deputy Finance Minister Chua Tee Yong.

“It is not true to say that the government did not refund, in fact, approximately RM5 billion in refunds have been made to date,” he said.

“Only those who were ineligible for the refunds, including companies which were unfit to file GST refunds, but still submitted claims requests, did not receive any refund,” he told reporters after opening the Corporate Malaysia Roundtable Post Budget 2016 Dialogue here today.

Chua said since the GST implementation in April, the government had rejected claims for refunds worth about RM400 million as many errors were made by companies making the claims.

He said the Customs Department had to be extra careful when processing refunds in order to avoid any incidence of monies being paid to wrong accounts.

Chua also said GST refunds made within 14 working days increased 41 per cent since the new tax regime was implemented on April 1, 2015 and the government expected the percentage to increase further.

“Malaysia has set a very high target at trying to achieve the target of completing the refunds within 14 days,” he said, adding that the average GST refund process adapted in other nations took about 50 days to complete.

He said the government welcomed accounting practitioners or the industry to look into how to strengthen the process in order to meet the 14-day target.

– BERNAMA

蔡智勇：4非穆斯林接幽會傳票‧抨行動黨充耳不聞

Created 12/09/2012 - 09:55

（柔佛‧居鑾8日訊）馬華青年專才局主任拿督蔡智勇針對《星報》今日報導4名非穆斯林遭哥打巴魯市議會官員開出幽會傳票（summonses for khalwat）事件發出提問，行動黨是否為了執政和當官而甚麼都做得出？所以才會持續協助伊斯蘭黨塑造中庸開明的形象。

根據有關報導指出，4名接獲傳票的非穆斯林分別為兩名坐在車內看飛機升降的男子和一對在公園內的情侶，有關官員是以“行為不檢＂為理由開出有關傳票；4人否認有關的指控，並指責有關官員是在濫用職權。

蔡智勇今日就此事表示，行動黨和伊斯蘭黨一再強調伊斯蘭刑事法並不會影響非穆斯林的生活，但是現在卻有非穆斯林接獲通姦傳票。

“我覺得這是睜眼說瞎話，自從伊斯蘭黨執政後推行種種的政策時，明顯的已經打擊到非穆斯林，例如男女分開坐和吸煙條例等等；吉打州的旅客人數也一直在下降。＂蔡智勇表示，在最近的“理髮風波＂中，行動黨作為伊斯蘭黨的夥伴也沒有做出指責。

“行動黨的底線是甚麼？為了執政和當官甚麼都做得出？甚至影響到非穆斯林的權利和自由，他們也不要知道。＂

伊黨執政中央後果無法想像

“行動黨持續把伊斯蘭黨包裝成中庸開明的政黨，可是最近舉行的伊斯蘭黨大會也顯示出該黨要落實伊斯蘭刑事法，那支持伊斯蘭黨就等於支持他們的鬥爭目標。＂因此，蔡智勇呼吁選民在來臨的13屆大選中做出選擇，在落實伊斯蘭刑事法之前，就應該要確保個人空間和生活習慣不被約束。

蔡智勇也形容這個事件為“歷史性事件＂，並且表示一旦伊斯蘭黨執政中央，後果將無法想像。

Tee Yong: Only 96 accredited organic farms in Malaysia

KUANG: About two-thirds of vegetable and fruit farmers who applied to be certified organic farmers failed to meet the criteria set, said Agriculture and Agro-based Industry deputy minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong on Saturday.

The MCA lawmaker said only 96 out of 295 farms had been accredited under Malaysia's Organic Scheme (SOM) since 2002.

He said many farmers were unable to meet requirements due to the stringent application processes set by the ministry.

“Organic planting is a very tedious process, it requires a lot of skills, knowledge and investment.

“No chemicals are allowed for pest control, there are higher costs compared with conventionally-grown items... In addition, before you even qualify for application, you must not have used chemicals for one year. It is not easy for many farmers,” he said after launching the Zenxin Organic farm open day in conjunction with its 10th anniversary celebrations here.

Chua said the consumption of organic food products amongst local consumers was a rising trend, especially for those in the urban areas due to their higher income.

He suggested farmers who were interested in organic farming joined Skim Amalan Ladang Baik (SALM), an agriculture practices scheme certified by the ministry.

Chua added that there were a total of 513 farms certified under SALM nationwide.

Boosting non-Malays sundy shop operators participation in Tukar

IPOH: Government hopes to increase the participation of non-Malay sundry shop operators under the Small Retailers Transformation Programme (Tukar) by relaxing its rules.

MCA Young Professionals Bureau chief Datuk Chua Tee Yong said since the start of Tukar in January 2011, only 1,020 sundry shop operators nationwide had opted for Tukar of with majority of them being Malay operators.

Among the reasons application of non-Malays were re jected are due to sales of non-halal products and ar rangements of items in their shops.

"This lead to several grouses among the operators and MCA through Koperasi Jayadiri Malaysia Berhad and Fed eration of Sundry Goods Merchants Associations of Malaysia are stepping in to assist them," he said here yesterday.

Speaking to reporters after opening a mini market here, which participated in the programme, Chua said the targeted sundry shops to be upgraded by this month end are 33.
   "So far 26 sundry shops had been upgraded," he added.

Urging non-Malay sundry shop operators to come forward and take part in the programme, Chua said it would ensure their survival.

"Those who opted for Tukar had recorded 20 to 30 per cent increase in their sale and more younger generation are becoming their clientele," he said.

Chua noted that by transforming, the operators are not helping themselves but also the community.
"Once transformed and they become a mini market, they will serve a bigger neighbourhood," he said.

On the procedures, Chua said the operators could apply through Koperasi Jayadiri Malaysia Berhad (Kojadi).

"Kojadi will vet the applications," .

There are over 20,000 Chinese sundry shop operators in the country.

It was reported that the government had allocated RM4 million to fund 33 Small Retailer Transformation Programme (Tukar) and 16 Automotive Workshop Modernisation Pro gramme (Atom) specifically to increase the involvement of Chinese businessmen.

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the allocation was channeled through Koperasi Jayadiri Malaysia Berhad (Ko jadi) and it is aimed at ensuring that there is equality in the country's socio-economic development regardless of the race or religion under the 1Malaysia concept.

蔡智勇：環境清潔吸引顧客‧雜貨店轉型‧營業額增30%

(霹靂‧怡保6日訊）馬華青年專才局主任拿督蔡智勇說，華裔傳統雜貨店通過“雜貨店轉型計劃＂（TUKAR）成功轉型和營業後，營業額提昇了20至30%，為這項計劃注入一支強心針。

 

他今日為馬來西亞雜貨商聯合會全國首間成功轉型的會員雜貨店――怡保孟加蘭勝昌便利店主持開幕時說，勝昌便利店就是一個例子，該店2個月前完成轉型，今天店主張傑財宣佈該店營業額提昇了20至30%。“此外，轉型後的雜貨店環境清潔明亮，成功吸引鄰近顧客及年輕人回流購物。＂他指出，目前全國有1千200間雜貨店申請轉型，其中馬來人業者佔72%，非馬來人及沙巴和砂拉越業者佔28%。

 

26華裔雜貨店成功轉型

“申請轉型的華裔雜貨店業者有33間，其中26間已成功轉型，希望其餘雜貨店可赶得及在12月31日前完成轉型。＂

 

出席者包括馬來西亞雜貨商聯合會主席連興泉、自立合作社主席拿督黃炳火、霹靂州貿消局局長莫哈末希爾米、霹靂州大馬合作社委員會主席賽夫、馬華霹靂州聯委會秘書拿督陳進明和副秘書拿督李官仁、華團咨詢局主任拿督易沛鴻、馬華怡保東區區會主席拿督湯華昌及雜貨店轉型計劃七人小組主任方志民。

 

黃炳火：申請轉型
華裔雜貨商不受限制

 

黃炳火指出，通過自立合作社與馬來西亞雜貨商聯合會合作推動的“雜貨店轉型計劃＂，申請轉型的華裔雜貨商將不受任何限制。

 

他說，華裔雜貨商無須遵守“不可售賣超過5%非清真食品＂的限制，也無須向指定的批發商入貨；業者也享有更實際的貸款用途，如從最高8萬令吉的貸款額中，3萬令吉供購買新貨品，其餘5萬令吉供店面裝修及提昇設備。

 

他指出，自立合作社也為“修車廠現代化計劃＂發出貸款，目前該社已為21間合格的雜貨店、6間修車廠及3間摩哆店提供240萬令吉的貸款。

 

連興泉表示，傳統雜貨店受到霸市的衝擊，其實雜貨店比霸市占優勢的是營業成本較低，因此只要把傳統營運方式改革轉型，即可與時並進繼續生存。

 

“參與雜貨店轉型計劃者，可獲低息（3%）貸款和免費專才諮詢服務，包括裝潢諮詢及排貨咨詢等。＂

 

他希望馬來西亞雜貨商聯合會會員踴躍參與這項轉型計劃，並將相關資料，包括名字、雜貨店地址及電話等交給該會；若非會員，也可直接向貿消部提出申請，以便在此計劃中受惠。

 

（星洲日報）