7 October 2021: NRP, Budget 2022 building blocks for Malaysia’s recovery; Interstate travel soon

Zafrul: NRP, Budget 2022 will form building blocks for Malaysia’s recovery

The National Recovery Plan (NRP) and Budget 2022 will form the building blocks for Malaysia’s longer-term recovery and reform efforts through the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), said Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. He said the NRP would set the nation firmly on the path to recovery based on science and data. The journey to recovery would also be supported by the expansionary Budget 2022, laying the foundations for the government’s wider and longer-term reform efforts, he added. “Firstly, efforts must be made to not only address COVID-19, but also to emerge more resilient post-pandemic. Secondly, in pursuing short-term goals to prevent an economic recession, we must also take the opportunity to address structural issues in the medium and longer term. Lastly, a proper digital infrastructure will be crucial especially in reducing urban-rural inequality,” said Tengku Zafrul. To ensure its success, the Finance Ministry was fully committed to provide for the development expenditure of the nation as detailed in the 12MP, he said. (The Star)

Electricity rebate, discount subject to govt’s financial position

Any consideration for rebates or discounts on electricity bills in the future is subject to the government’s financial position, said Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan. In 2020, he said, the government provided a discount on electricity bills involving an expenditure of RM2.75 billion which was jointly funded funded by the Finance Ministry, through the Covid-19 Fund (KWC), the Electricity Industry Fund and Tenaga Nasional Berhad. Takiyuddin said the targeted discounts of up to 40% in electricity bills to domestic consumers and a 5% discount to micro, small and medium enterprises (PMKS) for the period between July 1 and Sept 30, 2021 in the peninsula and Sabah involved an allocation of RM487 million. (Malay Mail)

Digital job salaries not growing much despite industry’s fast growth

The average monthly salary growth of digital professionals has been on a downtrend although the digital industry’s growth has accelerated due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Association of Malaysia (Pikom). A Pikom report launched today said their average monthly salaries’ growth was forecast to fall further to 0.1% this year from 2.2% in 2020, before rising by 2.0% next year, as a direct impact of the pandemic, including the Movement Control Order periods, economic uncertainties and job losses. Organising chair of the research and publication committee, Woon Tai Hai, said the Covid-19 pandemic had accelerated the digital industry’s growth and reshaped landscape driven by e-commerce, online connectivity infrastructure, digitalisation adoption and connectivity. 87% of the contribution to the digital economy came from e-commerce, ICT services and ICT manufacturing, while the remaining 13% was from ICT trade as well as content and media. The report also compares Malaysian technology salaries with its peers, saying Malaysia has continued to slide against Thailand with a multiple of 1.21 times, Singapore (1.98 times) and the United States (2.10 times). (The Sun Daily)

‘Adhere to SOP to avoid interstate travel U-turn’

Industry players say they will do their best to uphold the standard operating procedure (SOP), as the impending opening of interstate travel will be critical to the success of the tourism sector. Malaysian Tourist Guides Council president Jimmy Leong said the majority of Malaysians who are fully vaccinated will take the opportunity to travel once interstate travel is allowed. However, he stressed that precautionary measures must not be taken lightly as the threat of Covid-19 was still present. “We can’t afford a U-turn on this matter,” he said. With the nation on the verge of allowing interstate travel – which has been banned since Jan 13 – efforts are being made by all parties to ensure that it will be a success, as it is expected to benefit consumers and companies alike. Economics expert Prof Yeah Kim Leng said easing travel restrictions would enable greater economic and social activities to take place that in turn would boost consumption spending as well as relieve social and mental stress for families coping with prolonged separations. State borders are due to reopen after 90% of the adult population have been fully vaccinated – as of Tuesday, 88.4% of the adult population have been vaccinated. (The Star)

AirAsia Group to only allow fully vaccinated passengers

AirAsia Group Bhd’s Malaysian unit will only allow fully vaccinated adult passengers on its flights as it prepares to resume domestic and eventually international flight services, it said on Wednesday. Those under 18 who have yet to be fully vaccinated will need to be accompanied by innoculated family. The budget airline’s COVID-19 mitigation plan is among the strictest in the industry. AirAsia, whose employees have been fully vaccinated since August, also requires passengers to check-in via its app to significantly reduce physical interaction in the airport clearance and boarding process, it said. (The Star)

Dr Adham: Malaysia capable of producing own vaccine in 10 years

Malaysia can become a producer of human vaccines within the next 10 years through the National Vaccine Development Roadmap which will be launched in the near future, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said. He said the plan was coordinated through strategic collaborations between various parties including government bodies, industries, academics and the community so that a more comprehensive approach could be consolidated. “As a start, a national vaccine centre will be set up, namely the Malaysian Genome and Vaccine Institute (MGVI).This initiative needs to be expedited because the government is aware that it is difficult for Malaysia to continue to depend on and obtain vaccines from developed countries due to vaccine hoarding. Expertise from within the country has been identified and is being compiled to ensure that strategies and actions can be implemented according to the set timeline,” he said. (Malay Mail)