IT is not surprising that the 2021 Budget is creating a lot of interest.
It is the biggest ever presented in the history of Malaysia and exceptional in its expansive nature aimed at overcoming the gigantic challenges posed by the pandemic.
If done right, the budget could be a blueprint for the South Asian region, combining a strong focus on boosting the livelihoods of the most vulnerable people, the B40, while also revitalising the economy with a strong emphasis on a digital infrastructure, thanks to special reskilling and upskilling provisions.
While it will hardly be possible to satisfy the coalition of parties supporting the federal government and the opposition at the same time, the measures might be considered as a budget for the "underdogs" without neglecting the future of the national economy.
A stronger social protection floor is going to be indispensable, as recently highlighted by the United Nations.
The Protection We Want, a joint publication by the International Labour Organisation and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, highlights the importance of social protection mechanisms for the future recovery of the Asia-Pacific region.
The cash support for the most vulnerable citizens, including a progressive package for persons living with disabilities, should not be seen just as "handouts" but as integral pillars of a new social economy that should drive the post-pandemic reconstruction.
Andrew Yang ran a successful Democratic Party primary campaign against all odds, and despite being an underdog who was forced out from the contest at the very end, focused his manifesto on a very important issue: the Universal Basic Income.
In Europe, many countries have been adopting the Guaranteed Minimum Income as a way to maintain social cohesion.
Even before the pandemic, Malaysia was witnessing increased levels of inequality, a situation that has worsened as recognised by the budget speech.
The fact that government is also focusing on creating the infrastructure for a stronger digital future should be seen as a true opportunity to harness the power of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to reach out to those left behind. But what about the marginalised and vulnerable?
What can a new digital drive bring to them? What are the implications of the announced National Digital Network for the common citizens?
Can we leverage and harness the prowess of new technologies to leapfrog the existing divide in terms of educational and employment opportunities between the B40 and the rest of society, or should we go instead step by step, creating the conditions for more traditional employment to be extended to such segments of the population?
This is the dilemma that policymakers in partnership with the civil society and private sector must address.
The creation of a new National Employment Council could be an important tool to pilot job-creation initiatives that might help answer the above questions.
It would be interesting to also explore the reactivation of the National Social Council. Concerns for both job creation and the wellbeing of the people should go hand in hand, otherwise Malaysia risks the polarisation that its neighbour Indonesia is experiencing since the approval of the Omnibus Law on Job Creation.
An encouraging move is the creation of an employment scheme in eco-tourism for the Orang Asli who will be deployed as guides and in forest patrols.
This could offer an interesting blueprint for the future. Allocating new resources for the Trans Borneo Highway should take into account the concerns expressed by many conservationists in Sarawak and Sabah about the implications that such an undertaking might have on the ecosystem.
A serious conversation should be had about the trade-offs the country is ready to make to advance the economy while treasuring its unique biodiversity. Lastly, more resources for the promotion of volunteerism have been promised, but we need to make sure that the mechanisms already in place are effective.
In short, the government has the chance to truly innovate with this new budget, implementing farsighted progressive policies while investing in the future of all its citizens.
After all, a budget for the underdogs does not preclude advancements for the entire country.
The author is the Co-Founder of ENGAGE and writes on social inclusion, youth development, regional integration and the SDGs in the context of Asia Pacific