Goodies can sway votes Is raising maternity leave to BN, say analysts boon or bane?

> Govt must ensure allocation goes to target groups

PETALING JAYA: If the government can deliver what it has promised in Budget 2018 in the first few months of next year, it can sway valuable opposition votes to Barisan Nasional (BN), said analysts and economists.

Political analyst Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani said the implementation and support system of the budget ahead of the general election next year could play a vital role in winning over some opposition voters and fence-sitters.

“The BN government must ensure the budget allocation goes straight to target groups if it wants to see a vote sway. If the delivery service is efficient, then the people will feel satisfied, and this can translate into votes.

“Otherwise, you’ll only hear complaints and grouses. That is why the delivery system must be efficient,” he told theSun.

Mohd Azizuddin said the Budget’s addressing of the plights of the middle class could also prove to be an attraction.

“The most interesting part of Budget 2018 for me is the incentives for the middle class. Where the previous budget didn’t cover the M40 (middle income group making up 40% of the population) group, this one did,” he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had on Friday tabled the Budget 2018, allocating a total of RM280.25 billion, up 7.5% from this year’s anticipated expenditure of RM260.8 billion.

Among the more interesting takeaways from the budget are the abolition of toll collection from the Federal Highway and two others, a cut of two percentage points of income tax for those earning between RM20,000 and RM70,000 annually, and a RM6.8 billion allocation for 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M).

The majority of the budget had come from income tax collection (42.6%) and other taxes, with a large proportion of that to be spent on emoluments (28.2%), supplies and services (12%), debt service charges (11%), and subsidies and social assistance (9.5%) – refer chart.

Economist Prof Dr Barjoyai Bardai described the budget as a “miracle” one, noting how the government managed to announce quite a number of goodies.

He said the abolition of some tolls was a timely one and would have a huge impact. PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s well-intended proposal in his budget speech that the private sector increase maternity leave by 30 days to 90 has raised the debate whether it is a boon or bane for women.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim felt that the measure would increase productivity as female staff will be more dedicated once they know their welfare is being well looked after.

However, some women are worried that it will make them less marketable.

Some women’s organisations felt that in tandem with extending the maternity leave, the government should provide incentives to the private sector to reduce unequal treatment for women in the workplace, Oriental Daily News reported yesterday.

All Women’s Action Society former president Ho Yock Lin said any measure that benefits women is welcome but whether the proposal for a 90-day maternity leave in the private sector reflects the importance of women in the workplace remains to be seen.

She said as a result of having to provide longer maternity leave, some employers may be reluctant to hire women. “The government can provide incentives or tax rebates to reduce the incidence of such unequal treatment if the proposal is implemented.”

Malaysian Trades Union Congress president Abdul Halim Mansor, in welcoming it, said the congress had long fought fot it.