National Green Tech Centre formed: Najib

Published: Friday October 23, 2009 MYT 7:11:00 PM (the star)

National Green Tech Centre formed: Najib


KUALA LUMPUR: Realising that green technology has the potential of becoming an important sector in economic development, the government has proposed to restructure the Malaysia Energy Centre as the National Green Technology Centre.

In revealing this here Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the newly formed National Green Technology Centre would be tasked with formulating the nation's green technology development action plan.

"This centre will function as the focal point to set standards amd promote green technology. To intensify green awareness activities and practise environmentfriendly lifestyle, an allocation of RM20 million will be provided," he said in presenting the Budget 2010 at the Dewan Rakyat.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, in his maiden 90minute Budget speech, said the government would also organise an international exhibition on green technology in April, 2010, which was expected to attract internationally renowned companies and experts in green technology.

He said the government also intended to develop Putrajaya and Cyberjaya as pioneer townships in Green Technology as a showcase for the development of other townships.

Budget 2010 will also give priority to environment-friendly products and services that comply with green technology standards in government procurement.

"To promote green technology, the government will establish a fund amounting to RM1.5 billion. This fund will provide soft loans to companies that supply and utilise green technology.

“For suppliers, the maximum financing is RM50 million and for consumer companies, RM10mil. The government will bear 2 percent of total interest rate," said Najib.

In addition, he said the government would provide a guarantee of 60 percent on the financing amount, with the remaining 40 percent by banking institutions.

Najib said loan applications could be made through the National Green Technology Centre, and that the scheme would commence on Jan 1, 2010 and was expected to benefit 140 companies.

In promoting green buildings, the Prime Minister said building owners obtaining the Green Building Index (GBI) from Oct 24, 2009 until Dec 31, 2014 would be given income tax exemption equivalent to the additional capital expenditure in obtaining such certificates.

GBI is a green rating index on environmentally friendly buildings, which save utility costs and preserve the quality of the environment.

Najib also announced that buyers purchasing buildings with GBI certificates from developers be given stamp duty exemption on instruments of transfer of ownership.

The exemption amount is equivalent to the additional cost incurred in obtaining GBI certificates, and the exemption would be given to buyers who execute sales and purchase agreements from Oct 24, 2009 until Dec 31, 2014. - Bernama

* Ni ialah mengenai kitaorang ler..ngeh ngeh...jenuh la lepaih ni..ngeri gitu.