He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who is also Finance Minister has responded to feedback he received from the public when drafting the budget.
"All levels of the society know they will get certain advantage and benefit because what the PM announced just now did not have other purpose except to deliver greater progress and a more comfortable and better life for the future.
"Everyone who heard his speech would feel very satisfied because like what he said, this is a budget by the rakyat. It is a result of the many feedback he received. And he has given a very encouraging response in return," he said.
Muhyiddin said the budget provided a very bright hope in light of the government’s transformation agenda towards turning the country into a high income nation as the four main strategies included various important sectors.
"We are confident that the road towards becoming a high-income nation is clearer now," said the education minister while thanking Najib for giving extra attention to human capital development.
He said the ministry received a big injection for next year, which is RM29.3 billion compared to RM25.5 billion this year – 14.9% increase.
"For development alone, the ministry was allocated with RM4.9 billion this year but for next year, it is RM6.4 billion. So there is a 26.5% increase.
"This is in addition to the special allocation of RM254 million for the development of religious schools, vernacular schools, missionary schools and government-aided schools. This is compared to RM39.2 million this year – an increase by about 500%."
Muhyiddin said for the purpose of human capital development, the Education Ministry, Higher Education Ministry and Human Resources Ministry would be responsible to carry out the proposed plan under the budget.
On the plan to recruit 375 teachers who are native speakers of English including from the United Kingdom and Australia to further enhance the teaching of English in primary schools, Muhyiddin said the teachers will be appointed as master teachers.
"We will start this early 2011. They will be master teachers and will help to ensure our English language teachers are given adequate guide and training so that their delivery in schools are the best.
"This is an effort to improve the teaching and learning process in school," he said.
On the multivitamins for primary school pupils, Muhyiddin said it was another initiative by the prime minister to ensure schoolchildren get enough nutrition and grow up well and healthy.
