Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Setiawangsa constituency in Kuala Lumpur, says Budget 2022 did not address structural problems.
“Not enough was said in the Budget to show that the country’s structural problems are very serious,” he told Business Today regarding the Budget 2022 allocation fund in boosting the nation’s economy.
He says, “The issue of the rich-poor gap, low-quality jobs, and low wages, are problems that have existed for a long time but it became more serious following the pandemic.”
He also claims that the pandemic is still having a significant impact on Malaysia’s economy, structural fatigue and poverty are worsening.
“Since the 1997 Economic Crisis, the Malaysian economy has been badly affected not only by the Covid pandemic but also by structural lethargy and a significant rich-poor divide.”
He also adds that while the government’s efforts are appreciated, he believes there is more that can be done.
“Although the government has taken positive steps to revive the economy, the number is still small. More attention needs to be given to education, health, and employment sectors,” he says.
Iffah Salleh contributed to this article
