The government will announce a new form of aid for medium-income earners after conducting a study on the matter, Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan said today.

He said the government would probably raise their monthly income level of between RM3,000 and RM4,000.

“However, the form of assistance is still being studied. The decision will be announced during the tabling of the 2014 Budget in Parliament on Oct 25,” he told a media conference after witnessing signing of a memorandum of understanding between Sersol Bhd and Malay Contractors’ Association Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur today.

Ahmad said people living in rural areas would be one of the main focuses of the government in the budget as the government intends to intensify development of rural areas.

He said the government also has plans to increase small and medium enterprises and to improve their service quality and upgrade their products.

Besides giving 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BRIM) to focus groups, the government would also encourage and promote “one district one industry” programmes, the deputy minister said.

Meanwhile, Finance Ministry secretary-general Dr Irwan Serigar Abdullah said yesterday the government would announce several new initiatives in the budget to ease the burden of the middle-class people.

He had said the measure was taken as the middle-class people have not received any benefit from the various government policies as compared to low-income earners.

“For instance, low-income earners receive the BRIM whose quantum will be higher this year. The new amount will be announced in the budget,” he had said.

On the MoU, Ahmad said Sersol Bhd should seize the opportunity to provide services to the six mega projects being implemented in the country now.

“To date, the paint producing company is involved in two of the mega projects,” he added.  

- Bernama