PM to table 12th Malaysia Plan in Parliament on Sept 27
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will be tabling the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) in Parliament on Sept 27. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the 12MP is almost completed, adding that the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) will brief the Prime Minister accordingly. Mustapa said the tabling of the 12MP and the 2022 Development Budget would be the EPU’s main focus for the next 100 days. He highlighted that under the 12MP, the key issues to be addressed in the next five years included bridging the development gap between the states and areas in the country. “Additionally, we will also focus on addressing the income gap between the B40, M40 and T20 groups, especially those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said. He said the 12MP will also ensure that basic needs such as water, electricity and internet infrastructure can be fully enjoyed by the people. Meanwhile, Mustapa said the EPU will be finalising the 2022 Development Budget together with the Finance Ministry as soon as possible. (Malay Mail)
Govt looking at ways to increase tax collection, including voluntary disclosure of unpaid indirect tax
The Malaysian government is weighing methods that could be used to increase the amount of tax collected through increased tax compliance, the Finance Ministry said. In its Pre-Budget Statement released ahead of Budget 2022, the Finance Ministry noted that the tax collected from taxpayers has been lower than expected so far in 2021 and an expected further decrease due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Finance Ministry then outlined various strategies that it had either undertaken or is looking at carrying out in order to boost the government coffers and reduce leakages in tax due to the government. For example, the ministry listed three potential strategies to increase tax revenue, noting that the government is considering recommendations such as the implementation of the Special Voluntary Disclosure Programme (SVDP) for indirect taxes. It is also considering requiring those who bid for government contracts to be certified as having complied with tax requirements. The government is also considering implementing the Tax Identification Number (TIN) and reviewing tax treatment that is identified as having elements of revenue leakage or harmful practices. (Malay Mail)
Water supply in Selangor being restored in stages
Water supply to consumers in several areas in Selangor that have been hit by an unscheduled cut will resume in stages, starting from 7am on Wednesday (Sept 1). Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) corporate communication chief Elina Baseri said water supply in all 463 affected areas is expected to fully recover at midnight on Sept 3. Yesterday, Air Selangor announced unscheduled water cuts for 463 areas in Selangor due to odour pollution, the first since the last major disruption in December. “Air Selangor has conducted water quality testing and it has complied with the standards set by the Health Ministry. Treated water from Sg Semenyih water treatment plant has also been certified safe for distribution to consumers by the National Water Service Commission (SPAN),” she added. The status of water supply recovery will be updated from time to time through Air Selangor official communication channels including via its website www.airselangor.com, Air Selangor app, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. (The Star)
Scientex expands Klang Valley footprint with 251-acre Jenjarom land purchase
Scientex Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary Scientex Park (M) Sdn Bhd has entered into a sale and purchase agreement with Seriemas Development Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Bhd, to acquire five pieces of freehold land totalling 250.8 acres in Jenjarom, Selangor for RM207.6 million. The packaging manufacturer and property developer plans to launch a mixed development project on the land, with its GDV yet to be determined. Scientex CEO Lim Peng Jin said the proposed land acquisition has been an opportunity for the group to increase and boost its existing landbank in Selangor, especially after the encouraging take-up of its current developments in Kundang Jaya and Rawang. This latest land acquisition would increase its total land bank to 7,450 acres across Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Perak, Penang and Kedah. Currently, Scientex’s ongoing property projects are worth a total GDV of RM2.2 billion. (The Sun Daily)
Chinese developer of Johor’s Forest City laying off Malaysian staff as sales plummet
Country Garden Holdings Co Ltd, the Chinese company in a joint venture with the Johor government to develop Forest City in the state, has reportedly cut its staff in Malaysia to a third of what it was in 2019. Quoting anonymous sources that included employees, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that after three rounds of retrenchments in the past 18 months, just 500 employees remained in Country Garden’s Malaysian branch as of June, compared to 1,700 people in 2019. It also reported Country Garden sales staff as saying the “largest foreign real estate developer in Malaysia” has only sold fewer than 10 of Forest City’s residential and strata properties in the same period. The report added that another round of reassignments will likely happen, with offshore employees to be recalled to China either to fill vacancies in Country Garden’s home branch or leave the company altogether. After eight years of development, only one of the project’s four islands has been completed with condominiums, the five-star Forest City Marina Hotel, an international school, a plant for industrialised building systems (IBS) and a commercial area. (Malay Mail)
Ziyad’s gold medal win disqualified on technical grounds
It was heartbreak for Ziyad Zolkefli – along with his fellow Malaysians – as he was disqualified from the men’s shot putt F20 competition. Ziyad broke the world record twice in Tokyo, hurling 17.94m to retain his Paralympic men’s shot putt F20 title at the Olympic Stadium. However, moments after the event finished, officials removed the results of Ziyad and two other competitors after a protest launched by the Ukraine team on the grounds that the trio were late to enter the roll call area. The call room is the commencement of the athlete’s competition journey. From the call room, the athletes are considered to be in competition mode and escorted at all times by technical officials until they complete their event. Ukrainian Koval Maksym, who was hot on Ziyad’s heels, was declared the winner with 17.34m. Despite counter-protests from the Malaysia, Australia and Ecuador contingents, their appeal was rejected by the World Para Athletics Jury of Appeal. (The Star)
