THE proposal for the additional RM50 in credit card charges in the recent Budget 2010 proposal strengthens the need for there to be some action to be taken by the public to prevent the common person to be penalised further by an economy that is increasingly favouring the rich.

Banks have now become the bastions of a cruel form of capitalism, charging extortionary rates for services and then relying on the common man to bail them out whenever they get into a financial crisis – which is caused by their own greed and disregard for the rights of society.

 

DISCUSSIONS on how various ministries can best address urban poverty kicked off yesterday — days after the issue was given focus in the 2010 Budget proposal.

Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin confirmed other departments and ministries are being recruited to better address the matter.

HOW does a family with a household income of less than RM3,000 per month spend their money? MALAY MAIL spoke to three families who fall under the “urban poor” category, and based on their expenditure breakdown, it appears that they have barely enough to survive the high cost of living in the city.

MIKE LIEW works as a technician for an electronics appliances store in Subang and earns a monthly salary of RM1,800. The 28-year-old is the sole breadwinner for his family — consisting of his wife, a housewife, and a one-year-old baby.

 

MALAYSIAN men are more than happy to “give away” their women for the nation to prosper.

 

MALAYSIAN women are applauding the government’s move to ease the application for permanent residence (PR) status for skilled expatriates, for a simple reason — it gives them more choice.

Twenty-one-year-old Najihah Hawari from Cyberjaya was clearly elated at having an influx of foreign men in the country.

“I want to express my gratitude and undivided loyalty to the government. Thank you for this amazingly wise call,” she said.

THE 2010 Budget announced by the Prime Minister last Friday has brought smiles to expatriates planning to spend more time here.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in his maiden budget announced that the government would be making it easier for talented and skilled expatriates to get permanent residence (PR) status in a bid to drive the economy forward.

He said visas would automatically be granted to working family members within 14 days for those coming to work here, in addition to the extension of PR status to foreigners married to Malaysian women.

THE 2010 budget announced by the Prime Minister last Friday has not only brought smiles to Malaysians, but also to those eyeing to be Malaysians as well.

Full story in Malay Mail print copy today

THE urban poor in Malaysia can expect to see some changes in their welfare and hopefully lifestyle - as early as January next year - said new Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin.

Full story in Malay Mail print copy today

The country's economy is expected to expand between two and three per cent next year with all sectors of the economy projected to record positive growth, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today.

Najib, who is also the finance minister, said the mining sector was forecast to achieve a 1.1 per cent growth, manufacturing 1.7 per cent, agriculture 2.5 per cent, construction 3.2 per cent and the services sector, remaining the main driver, 3.6 per cent.

Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak today tabled the 2010 Budget totalling RM191.5 billion and which has a three-pronged strategy to drive the nation towards a high-income economy; ensuring holistic and sustainable development; and focusing on the well-being of the people.

Najib, in tabling his maiden budget as the prime minister with the theme '1Malaysia, Together We Prosper', allocated RM138.3 billion or 72.2 per cent for operating expenditure and RM53.2 billion or 27.8 per cent for development expenditure.