KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today announced a slew of goodies, from an additional public holiday to free tolls, for Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
To help the people make travel plans, Anwar said the unity government decided to provide an extra public holiday, either Friday or Monday, depending on the date for Aidilfitri.
He said the government granted the additional public holiday in accordance with Section 8 of the Holidays Act 1951, which is applicable to states in the peninsular and the federal territory of Labuan.
"If the first day of Syawal falls on Friday, the government will set Monday, April 24 as an extra public holiday.
"If Aidilfitri falls on Saturday, which is the most likely, the government will declare Friday, April 21 as an additional public holiday."
As for Sabah and Sarawak, Anwar said the state governments could declare additional public holidays in accordance with their public holiday ordinances.
Anwar made the announcement during a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya.
Present were Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub and Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming.
Anwar also announced toll exemptions for four days from tomorrow (April 19) until Friday (April 21), as well as on Sunday (April 24), for Malaysians returning home to celebrate Aidilfitri.
He said the toll-free Rahmah initiative for all classes of vehicles would be applicable on 33 highways around the country.
"This initiative will reduce the cost of tolls for people returning to their hometowns to celebrate Aidilfitri. It will make it easier for the people to plan their journeys."
Anwar said police would be offering discounts for traffic summonses from Friday until May 21.
The summonses, he said, would involve all traffic offences from last year and previous years.
"The people will only have to pay RM50 for each summons. The special rate is not applicable for traffic summonses issued this year."
Anwar said police were committed to ensuring that road safety was at an optimum level, especially during the festive season.
He announced that the Prisons Department would roll out the Licensed Prisoner Release (OBB) programme in conjunction with the Ihsan Madani Licensed Prisoner Release programme ahead of Aidilfitri.
Anwar said the OBB programme would see more than 1,000 prisoners released under licence during Ramadan and Syawal.
He said the programme would give Muslim inmates a chance to celebrate Hari Raya with their loved ones and families.
"The programme gives Muslim inmates as well as inmates of other faiths a chance to strengthen family ties."
The government also announced special discounts for basic food items, including chicken and onion, to help Menu Rahmah operators.
"The government greatly appreciates the contribution of Menu Rahmah operators who have helped fulfil the Madani aspiration to reduce the people's cost of living.
"The government is also aware and concerned about production costs that traders have to bear to obtain raw materials."
Anwar said the discount would ensure the sustainability of the Menu Rahmah initiative.
On another matter, Anwar announced an initiative to help more people from the B40 and M40 income groups own a home by reducing the prices of affordable homes.
He said this would be done through a RM120 million incentive for the private sector to provide cement at a reasonable and affordable rate.
The initiative, which is being implemented with the cooperation of the Cement and Concrete Association of Malaysia and private housing developers, is for developers of affordable homes and is expected to reduce prices of affordable homes by up to RM5,000.
Anwar said the initiative would support the development of 24,000 units of affordable houses.