BUDGET TIME: (Sept 1) Bookworms and techies, good news. Among the announcements in the 2007 Budget tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi are an increase in tax relief on purchase of books from RM700 to RM1,000, and the tax rebate of RM500 for computer purchases is to be replaced with tax relief of RM3,000 once every three years. The budget also has a wide array of tax and financial incentives for the private sector to help it to continue as the catalyst that will spearhead the nation’s economic growth.
THERAPY SUCCESS: (Aug 27) The Health Ministry says its pilot project utilising methadone drug substitution therapy (DST) on 1,240 drug users treated has achieved retention rates of 84% to 100%, with 71.5% of those treated finding employment and seeing their confidence and self-worth increase. A second phase is to be carried out next year, targeting 5,000 drug users.
