The government will expand healthcare coverage under the national health protection fund for the B40 group to cover 36 major critical illnesses, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said today.

Lim said the scheme, which is to be implemented from Jan 1 next year, would provide protection for the B40 group should they fall sick or get admitted into a government hospital.

In Budget 2019, it was announced that the scheme would only cover four major critical illnesses, but has now been extended to cover 36, he said.

"If they (B40) get admitted into a government hospital ward but cannot afford to pay, they may submit an application to cover payment for a maximum of 14 days at RM50 per day or RM700 a year," he told reporters here today.

He said the scheme would be managed by Bank Negara and that applications could be made online, adding that he central bank was now preparing the website.

Rubber floor price

Meanwhile, Lim said the government would also raise the floor price of rubber to RM2.50 from RM2.20 to assist tappers in facing the decline of international commodity prices.

He added that padi subsidy would also be raised to RM360 from RM300 per tonne.

In another development, the DAP leader warned MCA leaders not to use education as a political issue.

He said MCA's recommendation to raise tuition fees at Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC) due to lack of funds from the government was unwise.

"Their decision of punishing the students by raising the tuition fees will only worsen the situation," he said.

On Nov 12, MCA president Wee Ka Siong reportedly said that MCA would probably raise the tuition fees at TAR UC following a cut in allocation as announced in the recent budget.

Earlier, during a visit to SK Bagan Jermal in Butterworth, Lim said the government had approved an additional allocation for infrastructure upgrades at the school.

He said in addition to RM30,000 which had been allocated for the repair of roofs and pre-school facilities, another RM30,000 had been approved for toilet repairs and restore of other facilities in the dilapidated school.

- Bernama