By Iffah Salleh
Members of Parliament are entering the first week of the debate on Budget 2022 in the Dewan Rakyat, which began on November 9, 2021, and participants at the “Epilog: Budget 2021” say the debate should focus on deliverables and solutions on how to solve the many problems the country faces.
Moderator Sayed Munawar put a question to the participants: “What can we anticipate Budget 2022 being brought up and discussed in parliament next week?”
Dr Lee Hwok Aun Senior Fellow of ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Datuk M Nizam Mashar Chairman of IDRIS, Dato Dr Madeline Berma Honorary Professor UNIMAS, and Prof Madya Dr Mohd Yusof Saari, an economic analyst, gave their views.
Starting with Madeline, she states the debate should be on Budget 2022’s goals and targets in providing aid and safety nets in order to build a strong foundation rather than scraping the surface.
“With all the rebranding and initiatives, it’s about handing out handouts to the people,” she says, “but for how long?” Where are Budget 2022’s safety nets?
“From what I’ve seen of this year’s Budget 2022 presentation, it’s just more talk on the surface.”
Nizam says this year’s budget should include more details, such as how the nation is recovering.
“Poverty is an important key factor that should be addressed, and the process should place a greater emphasis on it.
“Where are the instruments for a business sector on the verge of a pandemic? As an example, the farmer’s problem, the paddy issue, why isn’t the problem addressed and the budget remains the same as before?”
“In addition, the government stated that 600,000 people would be hired, but where is the vacancy that should be filled, it needs to be fleshed out a bit more,” he argues.
Meanwhile, Lee claims that the debate should centre on social welfare because the purpose of the debate is to contribute to the betterment of people’s welfare and that it is not a ‘puppet argument’ from some, but a thinking debate.
“I would like to anticipate a debate on Cukai Makmur, emphasizing more serious income discussions.
“Not just type of sources only but also from federal and state service sources for example such as land exploration etc,” he says.
Yusof says he expects to hear a debate about carrying out the plan as stated in the finance ministry’s speech during the presentation of Budget 2022.
“Implementation is a critical issue that needs to be addressed more thoroughly.
“They must be listed, same goes for the details of previous years’ targets, whether they were met or not. Only then will be able to see and compare the nation’s improvement,” he declares.
