KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Affairs Ministry and the Defence Ministry have been allocated RM18.3bil and RM17.4bil, respectively, under Budget 2023.
Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, when tabling the Supply Bill 2023 in the Dewan Rakyat Friday (Oct 7), said that the government's focus next year would be the purchase and maintenance of Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) assets, with an allocation of almost RM4bil.
He said the second was the purchase and maintenance of Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) assets to improve domestic security with an allocation of RM431mil.
"The third is the maintenance of all ships and boats of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) to ensure the security of the country's maritime areas with an allocation of RM485mil.
"Apart from that is the procurement of body scanners and upgrading of facilities in five prisons, including the Seremban Prison in Negri Sembilan with an allocation of RM18mil," he said.
Tengku Zafrul said another 25 border control posts of the General Operations Force, Immigration, Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), and the MMEA would be added, among them in Serikin, Sarawak and Lahad Datu, Sabah.
Meanwhile, he said the welfare of the country's uniformed forces and retirees would continue to be preserved.
According to him, the initiative includes RM118mil for the maintenance of Armed Forces Family Housing (RKAT).
"The government plans to build new RKAT of various classes at the Butterworth Air Base in Penang, in addition to the 12 ongoing RKAT projects.
"RM42mil (has been allocated) to repair and upgrade the PDRM residential quarters," he said.
Tengku Zafrul added that RM28mil had been allocated to continue the construction of three living quarters under the Prisons Department next year, including at the Labuan Correctional Centre and the Correctional Academy of Malaysia.
Meanwhile, he said a 50% discount on public transport under the management of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd would be offered to 21,000 MAF veteran and police retiree card holders in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Pahang and Penang. - Bernama
