Give more ideas for Budget 2018, M’sians urged

JAYA: Cutting the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate and providing more affordable housing for middle income earners are among the many suggestions which Malaysians have posted on a Budget 2018 special website.

The website at https://bajet2018. najibrazak.com will be open on Sept 18 for Malaysians to submit their suggestions on what should be included in the 2018 budget.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is scheduled to table the 2018 Budget on Oct 27.

“Feedback and suggestions from the rakyat always play an important role in shaping the annual national budget.

“Malaysians are therefore encouraged to submit as much input as possible in order to take part in creating #Bajet2018,” the Prime Minister’s press secretary Datuk Seri Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad said in a statement to announce the website.

Malaysians can give their suggestions in 14 categories.

The categories include cost of living, housing and urban living, healthcare services, transportation and infrastructure, rural development and education.

As at press time, the most popular suggestion in the category of cost of living came from Mohd Raif Masaud who called on the Government to reduce the people’s burden.

“The GST needs to either be abolished or reduced to 3%, fuel prices need to be lowered along with the cost of public transportation.

“The prices of goods must be reduced and controlled strictly by the ministry, the current price of chicken at RM7 per kg now is too expensive,” said Mohd Raif.

Mohd Raif ’s suggestions drew 92 likes.

In the category of housing and urban living, the most popular suggestion was made by Joshua Phua Pei Xing, who wants to see more affordable housing.

“Great that the Government is trying to provide affordable housing for the rakyat, especially the B40 group,” said Phua in the posting.

“I wish the Government will focus more on providing affordable housing for the middle income group too,” he said.

His idea drew 80 likes.