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Profissional Documentos
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ence,
omic Resili
g Econ
trengthenin nsformation and
S
g Tra
Acceleratin
ises
lfilling Prom
Fu
ESTABLISHED IN
OCTOBER 2003
VOL: 3/2013
www.penerangan.gov.my
2014
BUDGET
GST
Inside:
2014
Budget
- page 4
Why Green
Tea?
- page 37
E
FRE
Y
COP
CONTENTS
4
FOCUS
2014 Budget
8
10
14
SPECIAL ISSUE
Urban Transformation
Centre
12
16
SPECIAL ISSUE
ECONOMY
FEATURES
18
26
28
30
34
37
MALAYSIAN
PRODUCT
Songket
20
22
24
SPORTS
TRAVEL INFO
INTERESTING
FACTS
Why Green Tea?
32
36
CALENDAR
OF EVENTS
October,
November and
December
AGRO
38
INSPIRATION
Inspirational Quotes
from Muslim
Philosophers
Editors Desk
he year 2013 has capped a number of significant changes in the Malaysian ruling system as
the Prime Minister, Dato Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, has announced the new cabinet
line-up to help his transformation agenda and national reconciliation after a tightly-run general
election.
The new cabinet was described by the Prime Minister as a balanced one with
experienced former ministers, technocrats and young politicians, and capable, which will
continue national transformation and increase the trust of the people to the government. It is
hoped that the new line-up will strengthen the government and gaining back the peoples trust.
The Prime Minister tabled the 2014 Budget, which aimed at invigorating economic
activity, strengthening fiscal management, inculcating excellence in human capital, intensifying
urban and rural development and ensuring the well-being of the people towards achieving
a developed nation status. It was formulated based on the theme Strengthening Economic
Resilience, Accelerating Transformation and Fulfilling Promises, focussing on five main thrusts.
The single largest and divisive issue in the 2014 Budget announcement was the
introduction of the GST and abolishment of the 10% Sales Tax and 6% Service Tax (SST) starting
1 April 2015. The GST is believed to be one of the major steps taken by our government as to
strengthen the economy in the long run.
Happy New Year!!
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FOCUS
2014
BUDGET
In general, 2014 Malaysia
Budget which was
announced last 25 October
2013 shows the increased
allocation of RM31 billion
compared to last years
budget which is RM232.8
billion with RM201.9 billion
for management expenses
and RM49.7 billion for
development expenditure.
2014 Budget consultation is themed as
Strengthening Economic Resilience,
Accelerating Transformation and Fulfilling Promises
2014
The five
main
thrusts
budget
4
2014 BUDGET
GST
Goods and Services Tax
MALAYSIA FOCUS | DECEMBER 2013
FOCUS
BUDGET 2014
The
well-being
of
sports
development has also taken into
consideration in 2014 budget. RM239
million in 2014 Budget is set to upgrade
sports complex and courts. This effort is
to enhance and maintain the pursuit of
excellence of sports in Malaysia.
SPECIAL ISSUE
National
Education
Blueprint
2013-2025
E
DUCATION
IS
SEEN
AS
THE
FOUNDAMENTAL ASPECT to nation
building and unity, the success of a nation
depends highly on its peoples knowledge,
skills and competencies. Nations with higher
education as seen worldwide enjoy greater
economic prosperity. The need of change in
Malaysias education system arises from the
increased public scrutiny and debate, higher
expectations from parents and increased
concerns from employers regarding the
systems ability to train young Malaysians to
a 21st century.
The national blueprint is developed
strictly with the guidance of three main
objectives. The first is based on from the
8
SPECIAL ISSUE
AES
Automated
Enforcement
System
The Automated Enforcement System (AES) is a
road safety enforcement system whereby cameras
are used to curb traffic violations. In line with
the Malaysian governments serious intention
to reduce road accidents, the AES system was
introduced. Traffic enforcements need to be
beefed up to cut down or reduce accidents and
road fatalities.
11
ECONOMY
Goods And
Services Tax
INTRODUCTION
The Prime Minister, Dato Sri Mohd Najib Tun
Abdul Razak has announced the GST (Goods
and Services Tax) when presenting the National
Budget 2014 which was held at the Parliament
on 25 October 2013 and will be implemented
starting on 1 April 2015. GST has been
implemented in France as early as the 1950s.
Currently, over 160 countries have implemented
the GST. In ASEAN, only Malaysia, Myanmar and
Brunei have not implemented it.
WHAT IS GST?
GST is a consumption tax levied on goods and
services at all levels of businesses. The consumer
is taxed only when they spend. GST will replace
the Sales and Services Tax.
It is aimed to streamline the countrys
tax system to be more effective, efficient,
transparent and business-friendly.
GST is imposed on goods and services at
each stage of production and distribution in
the supply chain including imported goods and
services.
Is GST a new consumption tax?
GST will be replacing the existing
consumption tax that is the Sales and Services
Tax (SST).
The announcement of GST in Malaysia has
actually been made during the presentation of
the National Budget 2005 which states that the
GST will be implemented in 1 January 2007 to
replace the existing consumption tax.
However, the government has postponed
the implementation of the GST to allow the
traders to make preparation on the computing
system and to provide exposure and appropriate
training to the staff involved.
On 16 December 2009, the GST Bill has been
presented in the Parliament for First Reading.
This Bill should be presented for Second Reading
and so on but has been deferred to take into
account the views from various groups and
community.
12
ALL YOU
NEED TO
KNOW
13
SPECIAL ISSUE
URBAN
TRANSFORMATION
CENTRE
There are many new mechanisms that are being
introduced by the Malaysian government to optimise
the potential and to grow the nations economy.
One of the mechanisms is the Urban Transformation
Centre (UTC) under the Blue Ocean Strategy (Strategi
Lautan Biru) which was introduced to improve the
quality of services through strategic partnerships
between government agencies and the private sector.
14
HE
URBAN
TRANSFORMATION
CENTRE or UTC is one of the efforts
and initiatives of the Government to
provide core services of the government
and private sector to the city community,
as a one-stop service centre located
in a building and under one roof. UTC
facilitates and provides all the main
services for the government and private
sectors in a strategic place. It plays a role
as the one-stop centre for youth activities,
retail space, NGO activities and also a
place for the entrepreneur community.
An urban dweller can visit the
UTC to attend to various matters such
as issues pertaining to taxes or tithes
and identity card, financial services
or engage in recreational activities
or workout in the indoor gymnasium
and other activities such as wall
climbing, aerobics or a game of futsal.
Pudu Sentral, previously known
as Puduraya, is now known as the
Kuala Lumpur Urban Transformation
Centre and was officially launched by
Prime Minister, Dato Sri Najib Bin Tun
Abdul Razak on September 22, 2012.
The Prime Minister said at
the official launch, that the Urban
Transformation Centre (UTC) is a one-stop
centre for those seeking government and
private services in the heart of the city. It
is an enhancement of Pudu Sentral. The
building and car parks were renovated
to place the government service centres
and recreational facilities. Everything else
is still the same. The buses will still run
from here, Dato Sri Najib said during the
official launch of UTC in Kuala Lumpur.
The Urban Transformation Centre
in Kuala Lumpur houses approximately 39
government agencies, commercial offices,
various private businesses, library, a youth
development and activity centre, a local
products sales area, an activity centre for
non-governmental organisations (NGOs),
including Klinik 1Malaysia, Kedai Rakyat
1Malaysia, Kedai Kain 1Malaysia and
the countrys first Kedai Buku 1Malaysia.
The
Urban
Transformation
Centre in Kuala Lumpur is the nations
second UTC, following the first, which
was launched in Melaka earlier in June
2012. Pudu Sentral has undergone
several makeovers including a major
one by the building owners and
developer,
UDA
Holdings
Berhad
when it was still known as Puduraya.
MALAYSIA FOCUS | DECEMBER 2013
15
FEATURES
Deepavali
- Festival of Lights
DIWALI
is celebrated by Hindus,
Jains and Sikhs to mark
historical events, stories or myths. The festival
is predominated by colourful display of lights,
bursting of crackers, cleanliness, sweets and
cakes, lots of shopping, joy and happiness.
The festive spirit brings people of different
communities closer, to celebrate the joyous and
vibrant festival in the most blissful and lively
way.
Diwali is also known as the Festival
of Lights. The festival spiritually signifies the
victory of light over darkness, knowledge
over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over
despair. The festival preparations and rituals
typically extend over a five day period, but the
main festival night of Diwali coincides with the
darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar
month Kartik. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali
night falls between mid-October and midNovember.
On the eve of the festival, people clean
and decorate their homes. On Diwali, Hindus
dress up in new clothes or their best outfit,
light up diyas (lamps and candles) inside and
outside their homes, participate in family puja
typically to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth
and prosperity. After puja prayers, fireworks
follow, then a family feast including mithai or
sweets and an exchange of gifts between family
members and close friends. Diwali also marks
16
DEEPAVALI
17
FEATURES
The 4th
International
Greentech &
Eco Products
Exhibition and
Conference
Malaysia
18
THE 4TH INTERNATIONAL GREENTECH & ECO PRODUCTS EXHIBITION AND CONFERENCE MALAYSIA
19
FEATURES
21
FEATURES
Malaysia - China
Economic
Summit
bilateral relations.
In his speech, Prime Minister Dato Sri
Najib also hailed the substantial achievements
of Malaysia-China relations and actively
responded to Chinas suggestions on cooperation. Dato Sri Najib said that at present,
Asias economy maintains strong growth
momentum and the status of Asia is increasingly
growing in the international arena. The rosy
prospects of Asias development are interlinked
with the Chinese dream of national prosperity
and rejuvenation and the peoples happiness.
Malaysia and China are important
partners and the two countries should take the
establishment of a comprehensive strategic
partnership as an important opportunity to
deepen mutually beneficial co-operation
and realise common development, making
greater contributions to promoting peace and
prosperity of the region and the world.
Malaysia welcomes Chinese enterprises
to increase investments in Malaysia and hope
that the enterprises of both countries will play
a more active role in the bilateral economic
development and regional co-operation.
Dato Sri Najib and Xi Jinping also jointly
witnessed the signing of an inter-governmental
five-year development plan on economic
and trade co-operation and a number of
agreements on Qinzhou and Kuantan industrial
parks. The Prime Minister said that the signing
of the five-year programme for economic and
trade co-operation by both the countries Trade
Ministers also marked the beginning of a new
stage in the relationship of the two countries.
And it sets out a clear vision of our common
ambition, deepening bilateral and economic
relations, yielding an elevated strategic
partnership between our countries, said Dato
Sri Najib, who is also the Finance Minister.
The programme, which will see the
bilateral trade between the two nations hit
US$160 billion by the end of the fifth year, is
a rolling plan including an early harvest of lowhanging fruits, those that have been identified
for immediate implementation as well as those
which require further development.
Dato Sri Najib said the covered areas
of co-operation include agriculture, energy
and mineral resources, manufacturing and
engineering. He said that the Chinese President
shared the same sentiments with him and
expressed their meeting using a Mandarin
expression which means at the first meeting,
we felt like old friends. He added that the
bonds between the two nations were forged in
the past but has grown stronger in the present.
By committing to further co-operation
in pursuit of common aims, we can drive
development and progress, not just in our
countries, but in our region and the wider
world. Chinas dream and Asias promise can
be fulfilled together, in an age marked by the
prosperity and stability in equal measure,
said Dato Sri Najib. Both countries also
agreed to establish Consul-Generals office in
23
FEATURES
The
Advantages
of Social
Media
24
SOCIAL MEDIA
25
MALAYSIAN PRODUCT
Songket
SONGKET is a fabric that belongs to the brocade family of textiles.
It is hand-woven in silk or cotton, and intricately patterned with
gold or silver threads.
26
SONGKET
27
SPORTS
28
29
SPORTS
HOST CLAIMS
THREE GOLD
MEDALS, JAPAN
TOPS MEDAL
STANDING
AFTER DAY
ONE
IT was a perfect day for Malaysia as the host bagged
three gold medals on the opening day of the athletic
competition of the Asian Youth Para Games Malaysia 2013
in Kuala Lumpur.
31
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
OCTOBER
Textile Craft Promotion
Venue
Kuala Lumpur
Craft Complex,
Kuala Lumpur
Venue
Kuala Lumpur
Venue
Sepang
International
Circuit,
Selangor
15 Oct 2013
Also known as Hari Raya Haji, this festival marks the culmination of the
Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca which is performed by millions of Muslims
annually. It is also known as Hari Raya Qurban. Muslims in the country
celebrate the festival with prayers and the sacrifice of cattle.
Venue
Nationwide
32
Venue
Mt. Kinabalu,
Sabah
02 Nov 2013
Deepavali or the Festival of Lights is celebrated by Hindus with prayers, family
gatherings and festivities. Open houses are held where family and friends
visit each other and enjoy delicious traditional goodies (except Labuan and
Sarawak).
Venue
ationwide
N
Venue
Port Klang,
Penang &
Langkawi
Urbanscapes 2013
DECEMBER
Penang Island Jazz Festival
Christmas
25 Dec 2013
The Christmas spirit is made merrier with Malaysias tropical weather
and friendly people. Visitors will be spoilt for choice as there are
many restaurants, bistros, shopping malls and hotels that offer great
promotions planned specially for the occasion. Join in the celebration
and have a sunny Christmas in Malaysia!
Venue
MAEPS,
Serdang,
Selangor
Venue
Bayview Beach
Resort, Penang
Venue
Nationwide
33
TRAVEL INFO
Air Terjun
Jelawang
Jeli, Kelantan
34
35
AGRO
36
INTERESTING FACTS
Green tea
2
3
4
5
6
Why
Green
Tea?
Depression. Theanine is an
amino acid naturally found
in tea leaves. It is this substance
that is thought to provide a
relaxing and tranquilizing effect
and be a great benefit to tea
drinkers.
10
Anti-viral
and
Antibacterial. Tea catechins are
strong antibacterial and antiviral
agents which make them
effective for treating everything
from influenza to cancer. In
some studies green tea has been
shown to inhibit the spread of
many diseases.
11
37
INSPIRATION
38
39