Warge Mas, Public Healthcare, poor household/Individuals enrichment...not priority in 10MP

Well, again they have missed out the elderly - the Warga Mas. [Those who have contributed to the growth of Malaysia, whose savings cannot sustain their living at today's and tomorrow's cost]

And, sadly the emphasis is on PRIVATE healthcare - not healthcare generally.

• Focus on 12 national key economic areas of NKEAs to be announced in October

1) Oil and gas
2) Palm oil and related products
3) Financial services
4) Wholesale and retail
5) Tourism
6) Information and communication technology (ICT)
7) Education services
8) Electric and electronic
9) Business services
10) Private healthcare
11) Agriculture
12) Greater Kuala Lumpur - Malaysiakini, 10/6/2010, PM's 10MP speech - salient points

East Coast of the Peninsular Malaysia is again not a priority. They are upgrading the railway lines from Singapore to Padang Besar.  What about the East Coast railways - where the lines and service is still really lacking. What about new railway lines - criss-crossing the Peninsular.

Bumiputra - again the 1st two items is not talking about equitable distribution among the Bumiputra individuals/households...but generally. Hence, if Najib himself owns 30% of the equity and property, it would satisfy this objective. Learn from the past - we now have the rich and super-rich Bumiputeras - and still the majority of the Bumiputras are poor...50 plus years of the UMNO-led BN government and we still have this....and the policy continues to make the rich Bumiputras richer.

Orang Asli - nothing much about them again...

Privatization - that seems to be the emphasis --- and later, the government will come and say they will remove all subsidies and assistance, and you have to pay what the private company is demanding as payment. Capitalism has failed...and the United States is the best example of this - where 'new poor' and the homeless is increasing day by day. The government must take back full responsibility of providing the basics for a decent living for all in Malaysia.

What about more courts, police stations, fire stations,...

What about equity ownership for the poor generally - there should have been a target that the poorest 40% (not just looking at monthly income, but also equity/property ownership) should directly(personally) own at least 10% (or 5%) of the equity/property.

Greater Kuala Lumpur - well, KL and the Klang Valley has been the focus of this government for far too long. Should we not be equitably distributing development to other parts of Malaysia?

Following are the highlights of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's speech when tabling the Tenth Malaysia Plan (10MP) at the Dewan Rakyat today:

• Theme: Towards Economic Prosperity and Social Justice

• The 10MP (2011-2015) is critical for the continuation of the national agenda to realise Vision 2020 and become an advanced and high-income nation.

• 9MP (2006-2010): 4.2 percent per annum expected in economic growth; gross national income per capita to reach RM26,420 (US$8,260) in 2010; inflation at 3.6 percent in 2010; federal government fiscal deficit to to narrow to 5.3 percent in 2010 compared with 7 percent of GDP in 2009.

• Incidence of poverty reduced to 3.8 percent in 2009 compared with 5.7 percent in 2005. Hardcore poverty rate dropped from 1.2 percent in 2005 to 0.7 percent in 2009.

• Economic growth rate expected to record 6 percent in 2010.

• 10MP targets the gross national income per capita to increase to RM38,850 (US$12,140) in 2015; requires the GDP to grow at 6 percent per annum.

• Growth will be led by the services and manufacturing sectors, revitalising the agricultural sector towards higher value added as well as the adoption of ICT, biotechnology and other relevant technologies.

• The key challenge is to stimulate private sector investments to grow at 12.8 percent or RM115 billion per annum.

• Government committed to reducing the fiscal deficit from 5.3 percent of the GDP in 2010 to less than 3 percent per annum in 2015.

• 10MP: 10 main premises

1) Internally driven, externally aware
2) Leveraging on our diversity internationally
3) Transforming to a high-income nation through specialisation
4) Unleashing productivity-led growth and innovation
5) Nurturing, attracting and retaining top talent
6) Ensuring equality of opportunities, safeguarding the vulnerable
7) Concentrated growth, inclusive development
8) Supporting effective and smart partnerships
9) Valuing our environmental endowments
10) Government as a competitive corporation

• 10MP: Five strategic thrusts

1) Transform Malaysia using NKRA methodology
2) Creating a conducive environment for economic growth
3) Moving towards inclusive socio-economic development
4) Developing and retaining a first-world talent base, and
5) Building an environment that enhances quality of life

• 10MP allocation for non-physical infrastructure to be increased to 40 percent compared with 21.8 percent under the 9MP, focus to be given to skills development programmes, R&D activities and venture capital funding

• A world-class civil service college will be established to raise the competency of civil servant

• Focus on 12 national key economic areas of NKEAs to be announced in October

1) Oil and gas
2) Palm oil and related products
3) Financial services
4) Wholesale and retail
5) Tourism
6) Information and communication technology (ICT)
7) Education services
8) Electric and electronic
9) Business services
10) Private healthcare
11) Agriculture
12) Greater Kuala Lumpur

• A special unit, the Economic Transformation Unit, will be established to plan and coordinate the implementation and development of the NKEAs.

• A Competition Commission and Appeal Tribunal will be established to ensure more orderly and effective implementation of the law.

• The government will continue to strive to place Malaysia among the top five most competitive countries in the world.
• A Facilitation Fund of RM20 billion will be provided to help the private sector to finance public-private partnership projects.

• Through the Facilitation Fund, the government expects to attract private sector investments worth at least RM200 billion. Among the projects that are being considered are land reclamation in Westport in Port Klang, Malaysia Truly Asia Centre in Kuala Lumpur and Senai High Technology Park in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor.

• A special unit under the Prime Minister's Department will be set up to set the direction and drive the National Innovation System and innovation policies and strategies.

• Government financing for public venture capital companies will be in the form of equity and not loans.

• A Mudharabah Innovation Fund (MIF)with an allocation of RM500 million will be introduced to provide risk capital to government venture capital companies.

• A Business Growth Fund with an initial allocation of RM150 million will be set up to bridge the financing gap between the early stage of commercialisation and venture capital financing for high tech products.

• The bankruptcy laws will be simplified to support a risk-taking culture, eliminate the stigma of failure and allow high calibre and credible entrepreneurs who fail to become active again.

• High speed broadband project to cover major towns, priority economic growth areas and industrial areas, broadband coverage for suburban and rural areas broadband service for the rural population through wireless infrastructure offering a variety of affodable packages.

• East Coast Expressway from Kuantan to Kuala Terengganu to be completed in the plan period at a total cost of RM3.7 billion and to be linked to the Kuantan Port which will be upgraded.

• The electrified double track rail project from Gemas to Johor baharu, estimated to cost RM8 billion, will be implemented to complete the electrified double track rail project from Padang Besar in the north to Johor Baharu in the south.

• A sewerage treatment plant using green technology to be constructed in Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, similar plants throughout the country to follow.

• Energy supply will continue to be strengthened by creating a more competitive market and reducing energy subsidy in stages.

• Several cities in Malaysia to be transformed as destinations to attract high tech investments talent and knowledge workers.

• An additional RM3 billion for the Working Capital Guarantee Scheme to bring the total to RM10 billion for small- and medium-scaled enterprises to access financing facilities.

• The government will consider increasing the financial resources of the SME and the Agro Bank.

• The target of achieving at least 30 per cent bumiputera corporate equity ownership and economy at macro level remains.

• Five strategic initiatives to strengthen bumiputera development:

First: Increasing bumiputera equity ownership through institutionalisation.

Second: Increasing bumiputera property ownership.

Third: Improving skill and entrepreneurial development programmes and funding through various bumiputera development agencies.

Fourth: Developing professional bumiputera employment in a more holistic manner.

Fifth: Establishing a high-level council to plan, coordinate and monitor the implementation of the bumiputera development agenda.

• Focus on raising the income and quality of life of the bottom 40 per cent household income group where the Bumiputera form the largest number, that is 73 per cent of the 2.4 million households in the group.

• Subsidy rationalisation in stages, the lower income group and those who are most vulnerable will continue to be given assistance.

• Implementation of various economic programmes and provision of basic amenities to those living in the interior, especially those who live in long houses in Sabah and Sarawak, as well as the Orang Asli and estate workers in Peninsular Malaysia.

• A RM109 million allocation to provide water supply to 182 estates with up to 1,000 acres in size and located less than five kilometres from the water mains.

• AIM and TEKUN micro-credit facilities will be provided to address urban poverty and the loan scheme will be packaged together with entrepreneurship training.

• A fund of RM100 million to be provided to provide soft loans for 280,000 households in Chinese new villages to pay their land premiums and renewals of leasehold through Bank Simpanan Nasional.- Malaysiakini, 10/6/2010, PM's 10MP speech - salient points