PETALING JAYA: Retired armed forces and police personnel would be roped in to patrol jungles together with the Orang Asli in a move to safeguard biodiversity.
Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said RM20mil would be allocated for this Biodiversity Protection and Patrolling programme.
"About 500 former army and police personnel will be employed to carry out patrolling activities together with the Orang Asli," he said when tabling Budget 2021 Friday (Nov 6).
He said another RM40mil would be allocated to set up 30 environment protection monitoring stations to facilitate enforcement activities over the next five years.
Allocations to states had also been increased from RM350mil to RM400mil, including RM70mil under the ecological fiscal transfer programme as incentives to guarantee biodiversity sustainability.
"RM50 mil is allocated to address issues related to garbage and solid waste pollution in rivers," he said.
To reduce harmful effects on coral reefs and marine lives off Johor and Terengganu, RM10mil was allocated for integrated island waste management programmes.
To encourage households to buy energy efficient locally made fridges and air conditioners, the Government is offering a RM200 e-rebate under the Save 2.0 programme.
"RM30 mil is allocated for the Save 2.0 programme, benefitting 140,000 households," he said.
The goverment also supported mangrove planting in Tanjung Piai, Johor and Kuala Sepetang, Perak.
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