[UPDATED] Budget 2022: 130,000 feminine hygiene kits for B40 teens every month

KUALA LUMPUR – The government will distribute basic feminine hygiene kits to 130,000 teenage girls from the B40 community on a monthly basis.

During the tabling of Budget 2022 today, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the distribution will be accompanied by reproductive health campaigns and educational initiatives at schools.

He added that RM11 million will be provided to subsidise mammogram tests among high-risk women and to carry out cervical cancer screening.

Meanwhile, the government will allocate RM13 million to empower the police’s Sexual, Women and Child Investigations Division.

Tengku Zafrul said that programmes to raise community awareness regarding violence against women will be carried out nationwide through the Women Against Crime Squad (Skuad Waja) launched by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry on October 17.

“The number of local social support centres will be increased so as to ensure the wellbeing of domestic violence victims. We will also work with NGOs to build more women’s shelters.”  

Aided by the Securities Commission, the government will make it mandatory for all publicly listed companies to appoint at least one female director.

“This suggestion is expected to be enforced on September 1, 2022 for large-capital companies and June 1, 2023 for other listed businesses.”  

To encourage female participation in economic sectors, RM5 million will be channelled to the Women Leadership Foundation for youth leadership training and entrepreneurship programmes.

Acknowledging female entrepreneurs whose businesses were affected by the pandemic, Tengku Zafrul said financing funds worth RM230 million will be provided through programmes such as the DanaNITA Scheme under Mara and Tekunita under Tekun Nasional.

Under the MyKasih Kapital programme, initiatives in the form of basic assistance for business models will be provided along with guidance programmes uplifting online businesses to support women generating incomes from their homes.

“5,000 participants including 2,000 single mothers will benefit from this programme,” Tengku Zafrul said, adding that RM30 million is allocated to set up childcare centres in government buildings, especially hospitals and public universities.

“The government suggests an extension on the release of individual income taxes up to RM3,000 as payment for childcare centres and kindergarten fees,” he said, adding that this will aid career women who juggle childcare and work.

Besides tax incentives, Putrajaya will amend guidelines to allow childcare centres to operate on levels above the first floor of buildings. – The Vibes, October 29, 2021