_Happy boy Posted November 7, 2020 Posted November 7, 2020 The Malaysian Budget 2021 (Belanjawan 2021) will be tabled by finance minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz in parliament at 4.00 pm today. As usual, we will be monitoring the speech for any automotive- and transport-related matters – will there be any further aid on these fronts going into next year? We will be posting live updates on any announcements made on these here, so be sure to tune in later. UPDATE:There were no directly-related auto-related matters, but all relevant transport topics have been included in the story. No automatic loan moratorium extension With banks reporting that 85% of lenders are resuming payments after the blanket moratorium expired on September 30, the government is not extending the loan moratorium scheme. However, banks are allowing Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) recipents in the B40 category who have trouble repaying their loans to choose from two options, either by going for a three-month moratorium or by reducing their monthly installment payments by half for six months. Eligible borrowers will only need to contact their banks to choose the options and complete the documentation. Meanwhile, those in the M40 category can rework their financial packages through a self-declaration process if they experience an income reduction. The facility for both B40 and M40 will be available from December 2020. Roads RM1.3 billion will be spent to improve roads in the country, with the implementation of rural and interstate road projects totalling 920 km, which will benefit 290,000 people. Additionally, RM3.8 billion will be allocated for the implementation of a number of projects. These are: Phase two of the construction of the Klang third bridge in Selangor. Continuing the 325 km-long Central Spine Road (Kuala Krai–Kuala Pilah highway) with the new alignment from Kelantan to Pahang. Upgrading the bridge across Sungai Marang in Terengganu. Upgrading the federal roads linking Gerik, Perak to Kulim, Kedah. To continue building and carrying out upgrading work on the [CENSORED]u Indah ringroad phase three in Klang. Continuing the construction of the Serusop to Pituru package of the Sabah portion of the Pan Borneo Highway. Continuing the construction of the Cameron Highlands bypass road. Public transport My30 unlimited travel pass The My30 unlimited public transport travel pass programme, which was introduced in June, will be continued and will be expanded to Penang and Kuantan. The goverment is allocating RM300 million for this. RM5 unlimited KTM travel pass for primary/secondary students and the disabled An unlimited access monthly travel pass priced at RM5 a month will be introduced for students in Standard One to Form Six as well as for the disabled. They will be able to utilise the pass for travel on the Klang Valley komuter lines as well as the inter-city service between Kuala Lipis and Tumpat in the peninsular and the Beaufort and Tenom line in Sabah. Buses The stage bus service transformation programme is being implemented in Kangar, Seremban, Ipoh and Kuala Terengganu, and will be then expanded in phases to Johor Bahru, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Kuantan, with RM150 million allocated for the programme. To ease the burden on bus operators, the government has announced a sales tax exemption on all new locally-assembled, air-conditioned bus purchases in the country for a period of two years, beginning from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022. Railway The government says it remains committed to the implementation of road and rail projects, and for 2021 is allocating RM15 billion to fund projects such as the electrified double-track Gemas-Johor Bahru rail project and phase one of the Klang Valley double-track project. Other rail projects that will continue development include the Johor-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) and the MRT3 Circle line in the Klang Valley.
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