Missing aspects of Budget 2018
IT is heartening to note that the Government has tabled a generous budget that provides relief, especially to the low and middle income groups known as the B40 and M40.
As I have suggested before, the Government must always feel the pulse of the people, and the 2018 Budget has included the proposal to cut income tax by two percentage points for those earning RM20,000 to RM70,000 ringgit annually.
This income tax reduction will definitely help the Middle 40 (M40) income earners to deal with the high cost of living. This segment was often left empty-handed in previous budgets, according to observers.
However, the budget should have also provided higher income tax relief for those who have to bring up their children.
I hope the individual tax relief can be increased from the present amount of RM9,000 and the tax relief for the wife should be at least RM6,000 and RM4,000 for each child.
Since 2016, the tax relief for a full-time housewife has been RM4,000 while RM2,000 has been given for each child below 18.
I also welcome the allocation for education improvement, particularly the RM2.5bil to help upgrade schools that are in poor condition. This will help ensure the safety of both teachers and students as schools are also considered places of work under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994.
It is also in line with the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) programme to create a safe and conducive environment under its Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) in School programme.
The proposal to increase the allowance for senior citizens from RM50 to RM350 is much welcomed and I hope more would be done for senior citizens particularly in the area of health.
Apart from the cash aid, the Government should also provide more health benefits for them as more of our senior citizens are expected to live on their own when our country moves towards becoming a developed and high-income nation.
In this respect, I also welcome the extension of medical facilities to the parents of retirees as it shows the Government’s appreciation for the contributions made by the civil servants.
The proposed RM720mil allocation to build 11 new police headquarters and six police stations and to purchase firearm fittings and operations vehicles will increase the police’s omnipresence, which is essential in combating crime and improving the people’s confidence on their safety and security.
However, the Government should also allocate funds to repair and upgrade existing facilities, including police stations and living quarters that are in poor condition.
A special allocation should also be set aside for training as law enforcers need to constantly upgrade their knowledge and skills to face new challenges and threats in a borderless world, including from international terrorist groups such as IS and DAESH.
I also welcome the plan to re-establish the Socio-Economic Research Institute (Seri) under the Prime Minister’s Office and upgrade the Institute of Ethnic Studies at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (KITA-UKM).
The re-establishment of Seri and the KITAUKM upgrade should be welcomed and hopefully they will contribute towards the improvement of ethnic relations in our country and chart out well-researched solutions to address the various socio-economic issues.
Since billions of ringgit will be allocated for the development of various facilities and the upgrading works of existing ones, I really hope the Government could also improve the maintenance culture. This can be done with more funding for maintenance work to be carried out by the relevant government departments, agencies and local authorities.
What has been left out in Budget 2018? I believe it has not included the new social agenda in respect of government support to deal with social issues.
More allocations should instead be allocated to tackle the multifarious social problems in the country such as juvenile crime, illegal gambling, acts of violence and involvement in drugs which are alarming.
I also hope the Government will also address other issues affecting the people, particularly the hike in food prices.
Although some quarters claim that the people have no problem spending on food and other necessities since restaurants and shopping malls are teeming with customers and shoppers, the fact is that many are complaining about the unreasonable price hikes.
Efforts to tackle the price increase will not succeed if the authorities focus only on taking action against traders. The process involves all parties in the supply chain – from producers and suppliers to wholesalers and retailers. The measures must be comprehensive so that the Government can control price increases throughout the supply chain through intervention and enforcement.
To inculcate good occupational safety and health culture among workers, I hope the Government would consider reducing or abolishing the import duty for personal protective equipment, such as safety helmets and goggles, to make them affordable.
While debating the 2018 Budget, it is hoped that our elected representatives would share the people’s concerns and make constructive suggestions to address them.
I hope the Government will take into consideration the challenges people are facing, especially the ever-increasing cost of living, and make some adjustments in the proposed budget.
TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE Kuala Lumpur