Volume 2, Issue 3 Page 2 Volume 2, Issue 3 C H Williams Talhar Wong & Yeo Sdn. Bhd. (24706-T) July-September, 2004 FEDERAL BUDGET 2005 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 4-PRONGED BUDGET STRATEGIES “Work Together With You” PPK 344/6/2004 1ST STRATEGY :ENHANCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, EFFICIENCY OF THE DELIVERY SYSTEM AND COMPETITIVENESS SIBU-THE CENTRE OF THE RAJANG BASIN 1. Review the taxation system • Set up a Taxation System Review Panel comprising public and private sector representatives. • Replace existing sales and services taxes with goods and services tax (GST) w.e.f. January, 2007. Goods and services deemed to be basic needs and small businesses will be exempted. • GST will provide the government with opportunity to reduce the corporate and individual income tax rates. 2. Income tax refunds Expedite income tax refunds to companies that make excess payments. Area of Sibu Division 8,278.3 sq km Population of Sibu Division 240,000 (est) 3. Streamline/improve the delivery system Divisional Town Sibu •Introduce the disclosure-based regulation (DBR), which requires the authorities to clearly set out the criteria District Town Kanowit & Selangau to be fulfilled in order for approval to be granted. Approvals are automatic upon confirmation by companies Export based Industries Timber-based industries, Ship building that have complied with the requirements. Natural Feature Batang Rajang, the longest river in Malaysia Landmark Wisma Sanyan, the tallest building in Sarawak • Expand the use of information and communications technology (ICT) to expedite payments and ensure accuracy of financial information, through eTreasury. Aerial view of Sibu town Notwithstanding the reduction in size from 12,639.7 sq km to 8,278.3 sq km in March 2002 (following the creation 4. Improve the efficiency of public transportation of the new Mukah Division), the current population of the Sibu Division is estimated at 240,000. However, its • Measures will be taken to increase the quality of light rail and existing bus services. Physical integration annual growth has slowed down substantially due to emigration to other towns in Sarawak especially amongst will be implemented to improve connectivity in public transport terminals, as well as the use of integrated its young people, mainly to Miri, Bintulu and Kuching, in search of better prospects and education. Nonetheless, the growth in population has resulted in the increase of property stock over the years as shown in the table below. ticketing and fare system. • Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd will be responsible for the building and financing of infrastructure. The Terrace houses recorded the highest increase from 1999 to 2004. The annual rate of growth is expected to increase operation of transport facilities will be undertaken by the newly established Rangkaian Pengangkutan Integrasi in the coming years with the increase in government projects and other industries. Deras KL. Property Stock within Sibu Municipal Council area • Set up the Klang Valley Urban Transport Authority as the regulatory authority for public transportation in Cumulative Total additions the Klang Valley. Type 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Up to Sep 2004 (1999-2004) 1 Detached house 3,802 3,832 3,820 3,787 3,709 5,707 1,905 2 Semi-detached house 6,109 6,170 6,336 6,496 6,930 7,263 1,154 3Terraced house 10,413 10,751 10,949 11,132 12,298 12,983 2,570 2ND STRATEGY : ACCELERATING THE SHIFT TOWARDS A HIGHER VALUE-ADDED 4 Flat/Apartment 230 230 230 231 312 318 88 ECONOMY 5 Shophouse 1,884 1,892 1,936 1,935 2,073 2,183 299 6Office 11 12 12 11 12 15 4 1. Promote the commercialisation of agriculture 7 Industry/Factory/Warehouse 900 906 907 908 1,023 1,186 286 8 Hotel 11 11 11 11 12 12 1 • Adopt modern agricultural methods, develop the relevant skills, set up a RM300-million seed capital fund 9 Service Station 22 22 22 22 23 23 1 and reduce the write-off period for capital expenditure on machinery and equipment from between 4 and 10 Others 268 291 306 309 429 537 269 8 years to 2 years to reduce dependence on labour and promote mechanization and automation in the Total 23,650 24,117 24,529 24,842 26,821 30,227 6,577 Source : Sibu Municipal Council, 2004 agriculture sector. To be continued in the next issue ..... • Promote halal products. A double-deduction incentive be given to producers on expenses incurred in meeting the standards to obtain halal certificates from Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia; Investment Tax Allowance Inside this issue: of 100% for 5 years; set up a special fund for development and promotion of halal products with an allocation Sibu-The Centre Of The Rajang Basin ........................................................ 1 Federal Budget 2005 ............................................................................... 2 of RM10 million to finance studies in business planning, technology and market development, as well as Commodities ........................................................................................... 5 improving productivity and quality. Economy ................................................................................................. 6 What’s Brewing In The Retail Sector ..................................................... 7 • The duration of tax incentives to encourage the modernization and commercialization of the agriculture New Releases ......................................................................................... 8 sector and promote food production will be extended for five more years to 2010. These include a 100% Recently Launched Projects ..................................................................... 9 News Clip .............................................................................................. 11 deduction on capital expenditure, Pioneer Status or Investment Tax Allowance for 5 years, Reinvestment Taman Soon Hup ................................................................................... 12 Allowance for 15 years and a tax deduction equivalent to actual investment or granted group relief. Wisma Sanyan, Sibu SARAWAK PROPERTY BULLETIN Page 3 Page 4 Volume 2, Issue 3 FEDERAL BUDGET 2005 (CONT’D) FEDERAL BUDGET 2005 (CONT’D) 2. Enhance the service sector THIRD STRATEGY : DEVELOPING HUMAN CAPITAL AS A CATALYST OF GROWTH •Strengthen the capital market: i. Allow up to 5 major foreign stockbrokers to operate in Malaysia. 1. Developing a knowledge society ii. Allow up to 5 leading global fund managers to operate in Malaysia. •Increase enrolment at polytechnics, community colleges, industrial training institutes and other institutes. • Increase the number of places for Mara-sponsored students overseas from 700 to 1,000 annually. iii. Allow 100% foreign ownership in futures broking companies to increase liquidity and level of capital market risk management. 2. Commercialising R & D iv. Allow 100% foreign ownership in venture-capital companies to increase funding and expertise to promote •A locally owned company that invests and owns at least 70% equity in the company which undertakes investment in the ICT sector. commercialization projects be granted tax deductions equivalent to actual investment. v. Allow local stockbroking companies which have merged with at least one other stockbroking company •A company that undertakes commercialization projects be granted pioneer status of 100% for 10 years. to establish four additional branches or electronic access facilities permitted activities. vi. Abolish the limit on the number of foreign dealer representatives. FOURTH STRATEGY : ENSURING THE WELL-BEING OF THE RAKYAT THROUGH vii. Allow the EPZF to increase the size of its funds placed with local fund-management companies, including IMPROVEMENT IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE non-bank owned companies. Presently, EPF placement with local fund-management companies is about RM6 billion and this amount will be doubled to RM12 billion within 2 years. 1. Disabled •To promote Malaysia as a regional financial centre, agencies such as the World Bank, International Finance •Increase the additional tax relief for disabled taxpayers from RM5,000 to RM6,000, and for disabled spouses Corporation and Asian Development Bank, as well as foreign multinationals will be allowed to issue ringgit- from RM2,500 to RM3,500. denomination bonds. 2. Personal computers • Develop the Islamic financial system by setting up an international financial training institute to produce •Increase the tax rebate for the purchase of personal computers from RM400 to RM500. experts in Islamic financial system and issuing Islamic Treasury Bills. •Increase tax relief on contributions to EPFD, Takaful, life insurance premiums from RM5,000 to RM6,000. 3. Reading • Increase the tax relief for the purchase of books from RM500 to RM700 3. Strengthen the manufacturing sector • Set up a Microelectronics Centre to increase the competitiveness of the semiconductor industry, extend 4. Low-cost housing import duty and sales tax exemptions to local companies that import raw materials or components from •Allocate RM778 million for the construction of 21,000 units of low-cost houses under the Projek Perumahan Rakyat for squatters in Kuala Lumpur and major towns. their contract manufacturers, provide double deduction on expenses incurred to obtain international quality • The state government will be provided an additional RM177 million in loans for the construction of 3,000 standards. units of houses under Projek Perumahan Awam Kos Rendah. • Abolish import duty on selected goods such as surgical gloves, carpets,