Monday 9 July 2012

RM600m fund to help Bumi firms carry out projects

PUTRAJAYA, July 9 — The government has allocated RM600 million for a facilitation fund to help Bumiputera companies implement infrastructure projects costing a minimum of RM5 million, with a maximum funding of 15 per cent of the overall cost of the project.

Minister in the Prime Minister Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop (picture) said previously the fund was limited to projects costing a minimum of RM20 million.

“The response then was poor with only seven applications, of which four were approved.

“This is a new facility that has been approved by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to enable more Bumiputera companies get access to the fund,” he told a media briefing here today.


Nor Mohamed said the applications for the fund could be made via the five economic corridors — Iskandar Malaysia, Northern Corridor Economic Region, East Coast Economic Region, Sabah Development Corridor and Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy — or the Bumiputera Agenda Co-ordinating Unit (Teraju).

He said each applicant would be scrutinised carefully and a decision would be made within a month.
Nor Mohamed said prior to this, the government had decided to allocate RM20 billion under the 10th Malaysia Plan as facilitation fund under Public-Private Sector Partnership Unit (UKAS) to help private sector companies undertake projects with a minimum cost of RM100 million, with maximum funding of 10 per cent of the cost of the project.
 
“Of the total, RM2 billion is allocated for Bumiputeras under Teraju, with the flexibility that the minimum cost of the project is RM20 million and the maximum funding would be 15 per cent of the total cost,” he said.

Earlier, he witnessed the signing of the agreement between UKAS and Plaza Merdeka Holdings Sdn Bhd for the RM30.69 million funding to build a shopping centre at Hotal Plaza Merdeka in Kuching, Sarawak.

Another agreement was signed with Tasja Development Sdn Bhd for RM57.5 million funding to build a hi-tech park in Kuantan, Pahang.

To-date, total funding that has been approved, including the two projects signed today, amounted to RM5.1 billion, he said.

“The fund is still processing applications for RM4.7 billion funding,” he said. — Bernama

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