I refer to Budget 2014 delivered by the Prime Minister on 25th October 2013. This budget is shocking in its complete disregard of the most needy and deprived sections of our society.
The BN government has unforgivably ignored the poor, the disabled and senior citizens. A total sum of RM 1.29 billion has been allocated for assistance to the poor, disabled and senior citizens. This is only about 0.5 % of the total budget amount of RM 264.15 billion!
The PM in his speech grandly announced RM 441 million for the disabled community. But in fact the disabled are getting less than they did under Budget 2013! Under socioeconomic aid, the disabled are allotted RM 309,263,800 compared to RM 315,263,800 in Budget 2013.
With increasing prices and the inflation factor, why reduce economic aid to the disabled? This fact was cleverly and dishonestly hidden by the Prime Minister when making his announcement on Friday.
Further, no other initiatives whatsoever were announced by the PM to better the difficult lives of the disabled community in Malaysia.
Similarly, the socioeconomic aid to the poor has been quietly reduced by the government. From 272,381,000 in Budget 2013, it has been reduced to RM 270,024,000 in Budget 2014.
Meanwhile, aid to senior citizens was reduced from RM 489,000,000 in 2013 to RM 479,714,900 in Budget 2014.
The BN government seems to have no real plans to cater for an older society of disabled persons or for the poor and the elderly.
This is not the Budget of a caring government, and it does not reflect the compassionate nature of the Malaysian. It is a budget without compassion, without empathy.
By not mentioning the reductions in his speech, the PM had tried to sneak this past the Malaysian public. Pakatan Rakyat demands that the allocations be reviewed and increased by the government before being passed by the Dewan Rakyat.
N SURENDRAN
VICE PRESIDENT, KEADILAN
MP PADANG SERAI
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