KUALA LUMPUR: The government has allocated RM230 million in financing funds to assist women entrepreneurs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to increase their business capacity.

Among the funds are MARA's Special Business Financing Scheme for Women (DanaNITA) and Tekunita under Tekun Nasional.

Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the government will also launch the MyKasih Capital programme to encourage women to generate income from home.

"Incentives in the form of basic business capital will also be given in addition to a training programme towards promoting online businesses, and this programme will benefit 5,000 participants, including 2,000 single mothers," he said when tabling Budget 2022 themed "Keluarga Malaysia, Makmur Sejahtera" (A Prosperous Malaysian Family) in the Dewan Rakyat, today.

He said a total of RM13 million has been allocated to strengthen the Sexual, Women and Child Investigations Division (D11) of the Royal Malaysia Police, including for the creation of 100 new posts as well as the WAJA Squad to enhance community awareness on violence against women nationwide.



BUDGET-WOMEN 2 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR



The government will also provide RM5 million to the Women Leadership Foundation to boost the group's participation in the economic sector.

"More than RM11 million is also being allocated as a subsidy for mammogram tests for women in the high-risk category and also for cervical cancer screening tests," he said.

The government will also focus on working mothers and RM30 million has been allotted for child nursery facilities at government buildings especially in hospitals and public universities.

Meanwhile, in recognition of working women who have to manage their children while working, the government intends to extend the individual income tax relief up to RM3,000 for the payment of daycare and kindergarten fees until 2023.

Tengku Zafrul said the government through the Securities Commission will also compel all public listed companies to appoint at least one female director, which is expected to take effect on Sept 1, 2022, for large-cap companies and on June 1, 2023, for other listed companies.

For the aspect of hygiene and personal health of young women, the government through the National Population and Family Development Board in collaboration with the Malaysian Prisons Department will distribute basic hygiene kits for free to 130,000 young women in the B40 group every month.

-- BERNAMA