Work needed on quality of life

THE 2017 Budget tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Friday was indeed people-centric but more can be done to ensure its relevance to Malaysians in general.

The proposed measures, allocations and incentives in the Budget should be lauded as they are aimed at enhancing people’s quality of life while sustaining the economy during the current challenging domestic and external environments.

The emphasis on health, education, sports, rural electrification and road improvement, water supply, public transportation, home ownership, civil servants’ needs, food production, internet connectivity, the SMEs as well as the attention given to the needs of the disabled and the less fortunate are positive and commendable steps.

The incentives and funds for the well-being of the rakyat, especially the lower income group in enhancing their employability and provision of entrepreneurship opportunities are steps in the right direction.

However, the Government could have done more to cushion the impact of the rising cost of living for other segments of society.

The rise in the cost of living, which is not matched by wage increases, has left the middle income group (M40) with a decline in real wages. This group of people, with household incomes between RM3,900 and RM8,300, now have to pay a lot more for healthcare, education, childcare and housing. Some have also made their way into the B40 household group.

According to Khazanah Research Institute Report, the household income of the B40 group, with household monthly income of RM3,900 and below, grew faster than the income growth of M40 and T20 groups.

I believe the Government can do more to assist Malaysians in the M40 income group such as by providing tax relief and rebates. The Government should have also considered lowering the income tax rate of M40 so that their purchasing power would be strengthened and in turn, contribute to the country’s economic growth.

As most Malaysians would agree, the impact of the GST or consumption tax is still felt today as people have to spend more on good and services.

In other countries like Singapore for instance, when the GST was introduced in 1994, the corporate and personal income tax rate was cut by 3 per cent. When the GST rate was increased from 3 per cent to 7 per cent, it was also accompanied by income tax cuts.

I am of the opinion that that in Malaysia, the Government should adjust the income tax rates to ease the GST impact on the rakyat and ease additional pressure on the taxpayers.

It is also disappointing to see that measures or incentives to promote and improve occupational safety and health (OSH) were absent in the 2017 Budget.

As the country progresses towards a high-income nation status, we cannot afford to place workplace safety and health on the backburner. This is because OSH plays a major role in any organisation’s productivity.

A safe and healthy workforce goes a long way in determining a country’s competitiveness, The Government should therefore be willing to allocate funds for the improvement and promotion of OSH. One of the ways is to make personal protective equipment (PPE) more affordable, by waiving or reducing the import duty on PPE.

The move to upgrade the drainage system and build two Overhead Motorcycle Ramps at the Federal Highway to mitigate floods in motorcycle lane and ensure safety of riders is most welcomed.

However, the RM29 million-allocation may not be adequate for the upgrading and repair of the existing motorcycle lanes as the road surface of the lanes are desperately in need of repair and better lighting.

Another issue that does not receive proper consideration in the 2017 budget is road safety. We cannot afford to lose valuable and skilled manpower due to injuries and death on the road. I strongly believe that the Government should provide funds and incentives for road safety promotion and campaigns, road safety research, better enforcement as well as road improvements like road repair and upgrading, and better signage.

The allocation of RM12.8 billion for the Ministry of Home Affairs including RM8.7 billion for the Royal Malaysia Police is laudable as it will contribute to improvement in the security of the society, and better morale and well-being of police personnel.

I am of the view that the allocation should be channelled to better training for all policemen, especially on modern policing for effective crime prevention.

The police force today should go beyond crime-focused activities and take on a wide variety of roles including problem solving and providers of first aid.

I believe efforts by the Prime Minister to come up with a balanced and pragmatic budget for 2017 during this trying time should be commended although more needs to be done for the rakyat’s happiness and better quality of life in terms of meaningful take-home pay and improved working conditions. TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE Kuala Lumpur