KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — The government has allocated over RM1.5 billion in Budget 2016 to increase the quality of life of people in the bottom 40 per cent of income (B40) group as one of its measures to ease the people’s cost of living. 

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said through the allocation, TEKUN would provide RM600 million, of which RM500 million is for Bumiputera entrepreneurs and RM100 million for Indian entrepreneurs through the Indian Community Development Scheme. 

“In addition, SME bank will provide RM50 million to assist small-scale Indian entrepreneurs,” he said when tabling the 2016 Budget themed “Prospering The Rakyat” at the Dewan Rakyat here today. 

Those in the B40 group earn an average of RM2,537 a month.  Najib said the government had also allocated RM200 million to Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) for its micro-financing facility to B40 households.  “A total of RM100 million is provided under the Socio-Economic Development of Indian Community Programme in collaboration between NGOs and private skills training institutes,” he said. 

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said an additional RM90 million was provided for microcredit to Chinese hawkers and petty traders, including RM50 million to Koperasi Jayadiri Malaysia Berhad (Kojadi).  “In addition, RM40 million is allocated to implement infrastructure projects and soft loans programme for residents in Chinese New Villages for land premium payments and repairing houses,” he said. 

A total of RM50 million was also allocated to the Rural and Regional Development Ministry for the Career and Skills Training Programme, as well as the Income Increment Programme. 

“(The government will also) provide RM100 million to private skills training institutions and NGOs to enhance skills of the B40 group to help them get jobs or start business,” he said. 

The prime minister said for the B40 group, the eRezeki and eUsahawan programmes would be expanded nationwide to increase employment opportunities and raise their income. 

“The government targets 100,000 people from B40 group to benefit from the programmes through an allocation of RM100 million provided by the Ministry of Communication and Multimedia,” he said. — Bernama