HOUSING, JOBS ON PEOPLE’S WISH LIST

Rakyat also want higher basic salaries, cheaper petrol and lower toll charges

CHEAPER affordable houses, continuation of Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) scheme, no new taxes and more job opportunities are among the rakyat’s wishlist ahead of the tabling of the 2019 Budget in Parliament on November 2.

This is based on a Facebook survey by Berita Harian and Harian Metro, which asked readers and subscribers to submit five expectations and suggestions for the national budget.

The survey began last Monday and received a lot of feedback from readers.

Respondents were also looking for the government to focus on private sector employees, with some suggesting an increase in basic salaries to be in line with the current cost of living in both urban and rural areas.

The survey also found that readers were hoping for lower retail prices for petrol as well as for toll charges to be reduced by as much as 50 per cent.

One reader, Siti Suhana Ahmad, suggested that RON 95’s price should be reduced to RM1.50 per litre and the price of affordable housing set at RM80,000.

For Alif Jw, the government needed to prioritise people in the rural areas as there were still many at the poverty level.

“As an attentive administrator, the government should also focus on the welfare of private sector workers,” he said.

Rozita Zainun agreed that there must be goodies for private sector workers.

“It is unfair that the previous national budgets only benefited the civil servants.

“We hope there is something for us from the private sector in the budget,” she said.

Meanwhile, Azlinda Azman, who commented on the cost of living, said if the government could not abolish the tolls, another option would be to reduce the charges.

Other proposals included reducing dependency on foreign workers and providing more jobs for Malaysians.

Zayed Farhan said the government must provide more jobs for Malaysians and reduce dependency on foreign workers.

Hakimi Zainol II hopes that the government would safeguard the welfare of the disabled and not ignore their needs and desire to find jobs.

Anuar Ruzaini hopes that the government will intensify its efforts in attracting more investments.