KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6  –  Following are the highlights of Budget 2021 tabled in Dewan Rakyat today by Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

The budget is themed 'Teguh Kita, Menang Bersama' (Stand United, We Shall Prevail)

• RM1 billion to be allocated in 2021 to contain the third wave of COVID-19, which is additional to RM1.8 billion allocated in 2020
• RM500 one-off allowance for Ministry of Health frontliners
• Tax relief increased to RM8,000 for parents' medical, special needs and care expenses
• Aid for disabled people unable to work increased from RM250 to RM300
• Disabled workers allowance increased to RM450
• Employees minimum EPF contribution reduced to 9 per cent from January 2021
• Bantuan Sara Hidup aid package replaced with Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat with better rate and income categories
• RM500 can be withdrawn monthly from EPF Account 1 up to RM6,000 within 12 months.
• Households with monthly income below RM2,500 with at least one child to receive RM1,200 under Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR)
• BPR to benefit 8.1 million people with allocation of RM6.5 billion
• Rubber Productivity Incentive doubled to RM300 million to stabilise income of 150,000 smallholders
• Fishermen's cost of living allowance raised to RM300
• RM3.7 billion allocation under Janakerja, aimed to create 500,000 new jobs
• Formation of National Employment Council to coordinate initiatives to create job opportunities, upskilling and trainings
• Education fees tax relief scope expanded to include course expenses.
• RM21 million for social support centres to address domestic violence
• RM10 million for cervical cancer screening and mammogram test subsidy incentives for women at high risk of breast cancer
• Grant for Rukun Tetangga raised to RM6,000 with allocation of RM50 million
• RM158 million for wellbeing of Orang Asli including social assistance programmes
• Tax relief limit for disabled couples increased to RM5,000
• RM170 million for early childhood education programmes by JKM, including management and upgrading of nurseries and kindergartens
• RM15 million for CENDANA to implement arts and culture programmes
• RM2.7 billion for upgrading rural infrastructure
•  RM55 million for hockey, rugby, badminton, cycling, female athlete development programmes including RM15 million for e-Sports
•  Tax relief for lifestyle raised to RM3,000 with additional RM500 for sports related expenses
• RM103 million to build, upgrade and maintain sports facilities nationwide
• RM75 million for eBelia programme with RM50 one-off to be credited into e-wallet accounts for those aged 18-20
• RM500 million to implement JENDELA initiative to ensure connectivity for 430 schools nationwide
• MCMC to allocate RM7.4 billion for 2021 and 2022 to build and upgrade broadband services
• Education Ministry gets highest allocation at RM50.4 billion or 15.6 per cent of overall government expenditure
• RM725 million to upgrade buildings and infrastructure in 50 dilapidated schools
• RM45 million to provide special needs stream for special needs children in schools
• RM14.4 billion to be allocated for Higher Education Ministry
• RM6 billion to be allocated for TVET in 2021
• RM500 million to build 14,000 PPR units
•  RM50 million for training and placements of 8,000 airline employees in Malaysia
• RM50 million for maintaining and upgrading tourism facilities nationwide
• Special Financial Assistance of RM600 each for civil servants Grade 56 and below
• Government pensioners and non-pensionable veterans will get Special Finance Assistance of RM300 each
• RM500 million to build 14,000 PPR units
•  RM50 million for training and placements of 8,000 airline employees in Malaysia
• RM50 million for maintaining and upgrading tourism facilities nationwide
• Special Financial Assistance of RM600 each for civil servants Grade 56 and below
• Government pensioners and non-pensionable veterans will get Special Finance Assistance of RM300 each
•  Sabah and Sarawak to receive Development Expenditure allocation of RM5.1 billion and RM4.5 billion respectively
• Traders, hawkers, e-hailing, taxi, rental car and tour drivers in Sabah to receive RM1,000 under Prihatin special grant
• --BERNAMA