Peoplecentric projects lauded

KUALA LUMPUR:The Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) congratulated the government for balancing between maintaining fiscal prudence, managing growth, as well as the people’s wellbeing.

A total of RM280.25 billion has been allocated for the 2018 Budget, an increase of RM19.45 billion, or 7.45 per cent, compared with last year’s budget allocation of RM260.8 billion.

According to the 2017/2018 Economic Report, the construction industry is forecast to grow by 7.5 per cent (7.6 per cent this year), supported by ongoing infrastructure projects.

“The association welcomes the priority afforded to people-centric projects such as affordable housing, rural housing, hospitals, roads and infrastructure upgrades like airports.

“MBAM wishes to express its appreciation to the government for maintaining the Goods and Services Tax rate at six per cent,” said MBAM president Foo Chek Lee.

The infrastructure and allocations for the construction industry next year are:

240,600 units of government housing under public housing plans;

10,000 units of public housing for police personnel;

PAN-BORNEO Highway (RM2 billion);

EAST Coast Rail Line project connecting Port Klang to Pengkalan Kubur;

MASS Rapid Transit 2 Sungai Buloh-Klang-Putrajaya Line project;

CENTRAL Spine Road project (RM230 million);

UPGRADING of Penang, Langkawi, Sultan Ismail Petra, Mukah and Sandakan airports;

CONSTRUCTION of roads in rural areas (RM934 million); and,

WOMEN and Children’s Hospital in Putrajaya (RM1 billion).

Foo noted the government’s emphasis on sustainable development.

This includes an allocation of RM5 billion under the Green Technology Financing Scheme and the implementation of a non-revenue water programme to reduce water loss at RM1.4 billion.