KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11  -- A total of RM575 million has been allocated as socio-economic assistance to senior citizens benefiting 137,000 seniors whose household income is below the poverty level.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng when tabling Budget 2020 at the Dewan Rakyat today said the government has also allocated RM4.6 million to the Senior Citizens Activity Centre (PAWE) to cover the expenditure of 129 centres across Malaysia benefiting 37,000 senior citizens.

“An allocation of RM80 million has also been set aside towards upgrading, repair and maintenance of 67 various institutions under the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) including childcare, disabled and elderly centres,” he said.

Besides, RM25 million has been allocated for the management, administration and expansion of the Food Bank program throughout Malaysia, an initiative to redistribute an estimated 3,000 metric tonne of excess food that is donated daily to the needy target groups, especially B40.

Lim said another RM20 million has been allocated for five new Independent Learning Centres, Down Syndrome training and a disabled child nursery.

“In addition, all training and coaching services provided by training service providers to the disabled persons will be exempted from services tax,” he said.

Apart from that, he said the government also set aside RM15 million allocation to the National Anti-Drugs Agency’s pilot RINTIS programme on drug addict rehabilitation with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and local communities.

To ensure the wellbeing of the homeless, he said an allocation of RM4.5 million will be provided to Anjung Singgah programme for the year 2020, which will benefit about 7,000 homeless Malaysians.

-- BERNAMA