KUALA LUMPUR: A total of RM300 million has been allocated under the Budget 2016 for Orang Asli development, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.
Unveiling the national budget, Najib said out of the funds, RM80 million would be used for the building of roads, supplying clean water and electricity in Sungai Siput, Perak, among others, under the Integrated Development of Remote Villages plan.
A total of RM45 million has been allocated for additional food aid, school allowances and transport fees, while RM25 million will be used to develop rubber, palm oil and other plantations under the Orang Asli Economic Development Project.
For the B40 group, or the bottom 40 per cent of low-income households, the e-Rezeki and e-Usahawan programmes will be expanded nationwide, to improve employment and income-generating opportunities.
The government expects 100,000 people in the B40 group to benefit with an additional RM100 million allocated by the Communications and Multimedia Ministry.