Anwar: School maintenance allocation to rise from RM1b to RM1.5b in 2027

The government plans to increase the maintenance allocation for all types of schools by 50 percent, raising the budget from RM1 billion to RM1.5 billion in 2027, as stated by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during his National Day Prime Address at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre. This additional allocation will be distributed among all school streams, including national, Chinese, Tamil, religious, tahfiz institutions, pondok, and special education schools.

The Prime Minister emphasized that "everyone is guaranteed to receive additional allocations" and the Ministry of Education will embark on a district-wide inspection starting next month to assess school infrastructure repair applications, aiming to identify needs earlier. Additionally, Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the Finance Minister, announced the launch of the AI for the Rakyat Programme on September 1, providing 100,000 Malaysian youths aged 18 to 30 with a free three-month subscription to leading AI applications, including local AI Gemini Enterprise and Chinese applications like Wonder Clip and Mul Run.

In terms of public health, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will allocate RM1 billion to enhance digital efficiency, including the installation of electronic medical records systems and internet connectivity in 150 hospitals and over 2,000 clinics, to streamline treatment processes and shorten patient waiting times.

Furthermore, the government decided to raise the e-Invoice implementation exemption threshold, from RM1 million to RM3 million per year, exempting businesses with annual sales below RM3 million from the obligation to implement the e-Invoice system. To assist the public, the government introduced the Madani Prosperity Grant, amounting to RM200 million, targeting hawkers, small traders, night market vendors, and mothers running home-based businesses.

These measures were taken considering the ongoing cost-of-living pressures and support needed for micro, small, and medium enterprises alongside school infrastructure and healthcare service requirements.