The government will spend RM4.9 billion to enhance the capacity and role of the Royal Malaysian Police to ensure that the Malaysian public gets the best security.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the allocation would enhance police operations and also enable the police to implement the Command, Control, Communication and Computerisation for Information Programme to install closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) in crime-prone areas.

An additional 2,000 police patrol cars would be deployed to ensure public security and increase public confidence, Abdullah, who is also the Finance Minister, said when tabling the 2007 Budget in Parliament today.

According to Bernama , Abdullah said the number of posts of police drivers would be increased by 3,000 while the existing allowance for motorcycle spare parts for patrolling policemen would also be increased, from RM80 to RM120.

In addition, Abdullah said, a sum of RM2.2 billion was allocated to build 46,000 units of government quarters for personnel of uniformed services, such as the police, the military, Fire and Rescue Department, Royal Malaysian Customs and other civil servants.

Computer ownership

The government has also proposed a tax relief of up to RM3,000 to encourage individual ownership of computers.

The relief will be given once in three years instead of once in five years.

Currently, taxpayers are eligible for a tax rebate of RM500 for the purchase of a computer and the rebate is given once in five years per household.

In the case of separate assessment, each taxpayer is eligible to claim the relief (instead of on a per household basis).

In the case of combined assessment, such expense is deemed incurred by the spouse who pays income tax.

The proposal is effective from year of assessment 2007.