The Malaysian Insight

BRIDGING development gaps between rural and urban states, helping people and businesses to recover their earnings after Covid-19 and creating more job opportunities are on lawmakers wish lists for Budget 2022.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s government’s maiden national spending plan will be tabled by Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz in Parliament this afternoon.

Tengku Zafrul has said the Budget for 2022 will be an expansionary one even after the mammoth RM322.5 billion Budget 2021. This will also be the second budget to be tabled amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

MPs from the opposition and government shared their hopes for their constituencies and their states with The Malaysian Insight, highlighting disparities between urban and rural areas.

Wong Kah Woh (Ipoh Timur-PH)

“Sufficient, quick and direct allocation for students who are having financial constraints in PdPR (online learning). They have trouble buying computers, tablets, printers, paying internet fees and other things required for online learning.

“I also hope the House Ownership Campaign (scheduled to end this year) will continue.

“For my constituency, I hope plans to rebuild the Pasir Pinji market as previously approved and funds of RM10 million allocated in 2019, will continue. A new Klinik Kesihatan Pengkalan Pegoh is also needed to cater to a 150,000 population.

“Previously allocated funds under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government to expand the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport (in Ipoh), should also be continued, while the Works Department (JKR) in Kinta could do with sufficient funding to maintain federal roads here.”

Che Abdullah Mat Nawi (Tumpat-PAS)

“I hope the government will continue its policies on the stimulus and aid packages, such as cash aid for targeted groups. Programmes such as the wage subsidy, job placements and reskilling and upskilling must be intensified to reduce unemployment.

“Emphasis should be given to balance out development disparity. I would like to see certain development projects in Kelantan, tourism facilities and basic infrastructure in Tumpat for the people and also to attract domestic tourists.

“I am also expecting the government to prioritise internet infrastructure, which is a necessity at this moment.”

Noor Amin Ahmad (Kangar-PH)

“Putrajaya must ensure fiscal discipline; spend on what is necessary, not because there is money to spend. No wastage and no delayed projects.

“I would prefer to see more allocations for the poorest states like Kelantan, Sabah, Perlis, Kedah and Sarawak. There should be more job creation and projects, especially for schools and digital development.

“On jobs, the SME, tourism and tourism-related sectors were mostly badly affected by the pandemic. So, there should be incentives to spur domestic tourism and SME recovery.

“Budget 2022 must also be inclusive and concerned for people’s wellbeing. It must address family, broken marriages and mental health issues.

“On being inclusive, no one should be left behind in education, and likewise for those in sectors like the arts, culture and literature. The budget should not purely be an economic tool or only about profit and loss; we must look at it as a development strategy that encompasses the hopes of the Malaysian Family (Keluarga Malaysia).”

Abdul Latif Abdul Rahman (Kuala Krai-PAS)

“The government should resolve the unemployment problem and create job opportunities for graduates. Development between states must also be balanced out. Attention should be given to Kelantan, which is lagging behind in terms of development.

“Job opportunities have to be increased (in Kelantan) so that the young do not have to migrate for work. The government must find a way to enable the young to buy a house.

“I also hope the government will increase the budget for the tourism sector. In Kuala Krai there are many interesting places that can be tourism products. There are also local delicacies. Funds to develop and promote these will benefit the locals in a big way.

“We are also dealing with Covid-19. There are people suffering from long Covid and facing problems, unable to return to work. The government should find a solution for this group. They should be assisted, not just psychologically but also with ways for them to carry on their life.

“There are also children who became orphaned after losing their parents to Covid-19. There are wives who became widowed. There are B40, M40 and the differently abled who have been impacted by Covid-19. They have lost their support system and need help.

 “Their wellbeing must be assured and the government must set up a special team for them. I would like to propose for the Women’s, Family and Community Development Ministry to help single mothers who have lost their husbands to Covid-19 and still have young children to support and raise, to start a new life. This is not only limited to monthly aid, but also a place to stay and a job.”

 Darell Leiking (Warisan-Penampang)

“The contribution by Sabah in terms of gross domestic product (GDP), especially in the oil and gas sector is huge. Sabah contributed almost 45% to 50% of oil barrels a day. If Putrajaya wants to create a Keluarga Malaysia Budget, Sabah is the ‘keluarga’ member that needs more attention than others.

“You can only reach Sabah and Sarawak by air and there is no way you can travel by road, but Sabah’s infrastructure is far behind. Even with the building of the Pan-Borneo highway, we still have road connectivity problems. In fact, in my constituency, some are even blaming the Pan-Borneo contractors for causing the massive floods.

“We expect Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz to come up with a different type of offer for Sabah. We have always been hearing that the allocation for Sabah is between RM4.5 billion to RM5 billion in terms of development and federal grants. Sarawak just announced their state budget, which is going to be over RM10 billion.

“Development disparity is very huge when it comes to Sabah. We do not have the business drive or capital injection you have in the Peninsula. We should focus on upskilling our citizens in Sabah. You have to train our people with new skills, (increase) connectivity and bring in investments.

“Sabah can also be the place for innovations, such as the medical marijuana Muar MP Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman has been talking about. This was something that he, Khalid Samad (the Shah Alam MP) and myself had raised in the cabinet when we were in government. If the peninsula has issues with growing medical marijuana, why not try Sabah? These are the kinds of injections or innovations that Sabah needs. We have to think differently.”

Xavier Jayakumar (Kuala Langat-Ind)

“Budget 2022 is a much-awaited budget. I believe the government will table a wholesome budget, which will cover the groups affected by Covid-19. I believe the government will prioritise the B40, M40 and the youth.

“I expect Budget 2022 to focus on economic recovery and the injection to help small entrepreneurs or small- and medium-sized and enterprises.” – October 29, 2021.