Thousands give Budget 2018 ideas

More than 13,000 suggestions submitted to website

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians gave 13,203 ideas on what they want to see in Budget 2018, with jobs, education and taxes being their top concerns.

The suggestions were submitted to the bajet2018.najibrazak.com website between Sept 4 and the Monday deadline.

The feedback was divided into 14 categories, including cost of living, housing and urban living, healthcare services, transportation and infrastructure, rural development and education.

The single most popular suggestion was a call to raise allowances for civil servants.

“Datuk Seri Najib, as everyone is aware, the cost of living has increased.

“I would like to urge that the allowance for civil servants be increased to allow us to cope with the increase,” wrote a citizen who identified himself as Ravidasan.

His suggestion drew 2,247 likes from the website visitors.

The most number of feedback was for the employment category with 8,352 suggestions (21.95%); followed by education with 2,898 suggestions (14.85%); taxation, business and finance with 1,516 suggestions ( 11.48%); transport and infrastructure at 1,249 (9.46%); and cost of living with 1,227 suggestions (9.29%).

On jobs, the most popular suggestions were for an increase in civil servants’ salaries, allowances and bonuses.

For education, the most liked suggestion was a call for better perks for school teachers and university lecturers.

Teacher Intan Nur Narini asked the Government to give teachers more teaching aid material such as books and software, or to give them a teaching aid allowance.

The third top category was taxation, business and finance, with suggestions for more income tax rebates, and a cut in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) being the most popular request.

Kissanrao Naga Raja suggested that the Prime Minister abolish GST on Malaysian-made vehicles, namely Perodua, Modenas and others.

“This will benefit all Malaysians, especially the low-income buyers,” said Kissanrao.

The 13,203 ideas for Budget 2018 are 58% more than the number received for last year’s budget, which drew 8,352 suggestions.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak expressed his gratitude for all the suggestions.

“Don’t miss this opportunity to shape your future,” the Prime Minister said in an e-mail message to netizens registered on his www. najibrazak.com portal.

This (abolish GST on Malaysian-made vehicles, namely Perodua and Modenas and others) will benefit all Malaysians, especially the low-income buyers. Kissanrao Naga Raja