KUALA LUMPUR: The opposition has dismissed the Pakatan Harapan 2019 Budget as not only a mere modification of previous budgets by Barisan Nasional (BN), but also falling short in several areas like steps to tackle joblessness.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this was because it provided no guidelines to solve the issue of joblessness as it focused too much on providing training and guidance, which would take too long to resolve the problem.
“The people had pinned high hopes for an announcement on this matter (joblessness) but it did not materialise. This (training and guidance) may take time (to resolve joblessness). However, the people want to see immediate action as to how the government can solve their present woes,” he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Zahid lamented that despite the budget providing goodies for the lower-income bracket such as via 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) adjustments, it was not properly elaborated on.
He pointed out that there were no special announcements for the people in addressing the spiraling cost of living as Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng touched too much on health schemes and loose dividend plans that do not meet their needs.
“There is of course good news for public transport users but the benefit is confined to places with LRT (Light Rail Transit) and MRT (Mass Rapid Transit).
“(However) from where will the government get RM314.5 billion for the budget amid claims that we do not have money and (Malaysia being saddled with) foreign debt amounting to RM1 trillion? What is the fiscal calculation applied?”
Zahid also expressed disappointment that the budget was used by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government to boost its popularity among the people by bashing the previous BN administration.
“This budget is to popularise the government, for the government and not for the people. I regret that the government used the budget speech (given by Lim at the Dewan Rakyat) to give a bad impression of BN, without admitting their (PH administration) own faults and weaknesses.
“Let it be judged by the people, as to whether their rights and privileges are returned and maintained. Time will tell.”