DAP national chairperson Lim Guan Eng has urged the government to allocate at least 10 percent of the budget designated for bumiputera communities to non-bumiputera.
He highlighted the stark disparity in past budget allocations, citing that in Budget 2022 under Perikatan Nasional, RM11.4 billion was allocated to bumiputera, while non-bumiputera received only RM345 million, amounting to just three percent of the total allocation.
"I support the allocations provided to assist the bumiputera, but I am calling for the percentage allocated to non-bumiputera to be increased from three to 10 percent.
"For instance, if RM12 billion is allocated to bumiputeras, then 10 percent, or RM1.2 billion, should be given to non-bumiputera," said the Bagan MP in a statement today.
He also raised this issue while debating the supplementary budget in the Dewan Rakyat, stating that such an approach aligns with the Madani government’s commitment to serving all Malaysians fairly.
Lim also expressed support for the RM20.2 billion supplementary budget and the additional RM2.3 billion in development expenditure, recognising the need for unanticipated spending amid economic uncertainties.
He pointed to external factors such as the economic policies of US President Donald Trump, China's economic slowdown, and declining semiconductor demand as contributors to Malaysia’s economic challenges.
Lim raised concerns about sluggish economic growth, noting that while Malaysia's export prices increased by 0.3 percent in January 2025 compared to December 2024, this was well below the five percent growth forecast by economists.
Furthermore, he said the export volume index declined by 11.6 percent month-on-month, and despite a year-on-year increase of 2.7 percent in the export unit value index, the export volume index still saw a 2.4 percent decrease.
Vehicle sales
He also highlighted a sharp drop in vehicle sales, which plummeted by 40 percent in January 2025 compared to December 2024, recording a 27 percent year-on-year decline.
"While the shorter working month due to the Chinese New Year holidays and pre-emptive vehicle purchases in December 2024 were contributing factors, the question is whether sales would return to previous levels," said the former finance minister.
Given these economic warning signs, Lim stressed the importance of alleviating financial burdens on businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises.
He reiterated his previous proposals, including raising the e-invoicing threshold from RM150,000 to RM500,000 in annual sales, exempting employers from paying the additional two percent EPF contribution for foreign workers, and postponing the floating price mechanism for RON95 petrol. - Mkini
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