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Rights groups want upcoming Budget to put children first

Boat operators eligible for fuel subsidy claims from Oct 9

CYBERJAYA: Registration for cash refund claims by passenger boat companies eligible for RON95 petrol subsidies will open on Oct 9, said Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali. He said registration can be made through mysubsidi.kpdn.gov.my, adding that the initiative is aimed at ensuring passenger boat operators, particularly those serving island and river areas, could continue providing essential transport services without being burdened by high operating costs. “The government has agreed to include passenger boat companies in the list of public transport sectors eligible to receive RON95 petrol subsidies under the subsidised petrol control system beginning Oct 9. With this, operators can submit cash refund claims through the designated portal,” he said after a fleet card presentation ceremony yesterday. Armizan said only public passenger boat companies registered with the Malaysian Marine Department, Sabah Ports and Harbours Department or Sarawak Rivers Board will be eligible to submit claims. Boats must operate in populated areas and provide scheduled services, such as the Kudat–Pulau Banggi route. As an interim measure, the government has also agreed to provide cash refunds to passenger boat companies meeting the criteria for RON95 purchases made between Sept 30 and Oct 31. “Operators are required to upload supporting documents such as business registration certificates, bank statements, number of boats, boat registration numbers and engine capacity, in addition to valid petrol purchase receipts,” he said. He added that all completed claims will be verified by the relevant water transport regulatory agency and the subsidy system administrator before refunds are credited directly into the company’s bank account. “Cash refunds will be disbursed by the Finance Ministry within 15 working days after the review process is completed,” he said. – Bernama Monthly tax deduction notices now sent via email PUTRAJAYA: The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has begun sending monthly tax deduction (MTD) notifications to individual taxpayers via email, effective Sept 17. In a statement yesterday, IRB said the August notifications were sent to email addresses registered by taxpayers through the MyTax portal. “This initiative demonstrates IRB’s commitment to assuring taxpayers that deductions made by employers have been duly remitted and credited into their respective tax ledgers. It is also part of IRB’s efforts to enhance digital service delivery and promote the MyTax portal as the official communication channel between the board and taxpayers,” it said. Taxpayers have been advised to ensure their email addresses are valid and up to date in the MyTax portal to avoid interruptions in receiving the monthly notifications. MTD payment details can be checked via the MTD link, while detailed account information is accessible through the “Ledger” link in the portal. – Bernama

o Advocates call for safer schools, mental health investment and stronger child protection

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Rights groups have urged that children must be placed at the heart of Budget 2026, warning that without a “child-first” approach, Malaysia risks failing its youngest citizens and undermining the nation’s future. In a statement yesterday, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC) under Suhakam called for concrete investments to meet Malaysia’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It said safe schools should be prioritised, with funding channelled into repairing and modernising ageing facilities, upgrading learning materials, enforcing safety standards and supporting anti-bullying initiatives. “Schools must also provide a safe environment for mental and emotional wellbeing. Budget 2026 should expand investment in mental health services by placing more counsellors and psychologists in high-need areas, ensuring hotlines are accessible and creating awareness programmes to reduce stigma and build a culture of care,” it said. OCC also pressed for stronger child protection measures, warning that children remain vulnerable without proper funding to fully enforce the Child Act 2001. It added that poverty continues to erode education, health and long-term opportunities. “Enhancing social protection by increasing cash assistance to low-income families and expanding access to nutritious school meals is crucial,” it said, while calling for more school based health services and expanded healthcare facilities in underserved areas. “Every ringgit spent on children must be seen as an investment in a stronger, safer and more resilient nation. Investment in children must be the nation’s highest priority,” it stressed. Suka Society (Persatuan Kebajikan Suara Kanak-Kanak Malaysia) executive director

Srividhya said a child-first budget could transform children’s daily realities, from safer schools and faster protection responses to fewer hungry children and stronger long-term contributions. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

he said. He also called for amendments to the Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act 2012 to shorten adjudication timelines and improve contractors’ cash flow, as well as wider use of collaborative contracts to reduce disputes. On sustainability, Rehda proposed extending the Green Investment Tax Allowance and Green Income Tax Exemption beyond 2026, with broader eligibility. Incentives could include reduced development charges or higher plot ratios for developers achieving gold or platinum certification, and 50% assessment fee rebates for homeowners of green-certified properties in the first three years. Wee noted that while sustainable practices are vital, compliance costs remain a burden and urged the government to provide more funding and a longer transition period. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will table Budget 2026 on Oct 10. – Bernama Srividhya also called for urgent investment in mental health, including adequate ratios of counsellors and psychologists, a 24/7 youth helpline and trauma-informed training for welfare officers, police and judges. “On child poverty, targeted support such as meaningful cash transfers, universal school meals and inclusive education funding are crucial to break cycles of deprivation,” she said, adding that data must be sex disaggregated and inclusive of children with disabilities, refugees, stateless and indigenous groups. She warned against token allocations and siloed policies, urging clear targets and transparent reporting to track improvements in child safety, hunger and absenteeism, and to speed up child-related cases.

MBAM president Oliver H.C. Wee said the industry would need support to adapt to the government’s target of reducing foreign worker intake from 15% to 10% by 2030. He expressed hope Budget 2026 would provide funding through government institutions to help companies transform. He also urged for SST on construction contracts not to be applied retrospectively, warning of higher project costs. Wee highlighted the Industrialised Building System (IBS) as a key enabler for the government’s plan to deliver one million affordable homes by 2035. “The government should take the lead in mandating IBS in all projects, rather than only fulfilling the IBS score. Our new MBAM building in Putra Heights was completed in six months using IBS, with minimal labour and few defects,” Anderson Selvasegaram echoed the call, saying Budget 2026 must reinforce child protection at every level. “It’s only when everyone is actively pushing to keep children safe and promote their rights that we can see a safer and enabling environment for all children,” he said. Child Rights Innovation and Betterment Foundation co-chairperson Srividhya Ganapathy said a “child-first” budget could transform children’s daily realities, from safer schools and faster protection responses to fewer hungry children and stronger long-term contributions. She urged “ring-fenced funding” for safe schools, more child protection officers and social workers, child-sensitive justice reforms, and independent oversight through the Children’s Commissioner.

Developers push for more affordable homes KUALA LUMPUR: The Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (Rehda) and the Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) have urged the government to include measures in Budget 2026 to improve housing affordability, lower construction costs and promote sustainable development. should co-exist with the current sell-then-build system to avoid shrinking supply, pushing up prices and weakening banks’ appetite for financing.

Rehda called for the revival of the Home Ownership Campaign with targeted incentives until Dec 31, 2026. It proposed stamp duty exemptions on the memorandum of transfer for homes priced between RM300,001 and RM1 million, and exemptions on loan agreements for properties up to RM2.5 million to help more Malaysians achieve home ownership. Highlighting rising business costs, Rehda described the 6% Sales and Service Tax (SST) on construction as “double taxation” on materials and workmanship, suggesting a reduced rate of 3%. On regulatory frameworks, it said the build then-sell model under the 13th Malaysia Plan