Budget ‘reckless and irresponsible’, says Art Harun

PETALING JAYA: Prominent lawyer and human rights activist Azhar Harun has hinted that the national budget for next year as being one that is “reckless and irresponsible”.

Alluding to the announcement on Budget 2018 by Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is also finance minister, at the Dewan Rakyat last Friday, Azhar said a budget is not a way to simply gain popularity or votes.

“A national budget that rains money and gifts without any justification or that fails to state long-lasting and long-term economic policies that will bring wealth to the country is reckless and irresponsible.

“It is not a document that rains money and gifts to sections of society for no reason other than to be popular or to gain votes,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Azhar, or Art, as he is more popularly known, also questioned how a national budget could generate less revenue for the government’s coffers yet give away so much in cash and kind, as well as that which benefits only certain sections of society “whether in terms of financial ability or geography”.

While not mentioning the details nor making any direct reference to the annual budget announcement by the finance minister, Art said that a national budget is more than just about outlining a nation’s income and expenditure.

“A national budget is also a statement of community goals and national policies.

“It sets out to achieve these goals and implement the policies by distributing financial resources to various machineries of the government that are critical towards achieving the goals and the successful implementation of the said policies,” he said.

“A national budget is therefore a social and economic statement.”

In announcing Budget 2018, Najib targetted Barisan Nasional’s traditional voter base ahead of the 14th general election which must be called sometime in the next eight months.

“I stand here today, to bring happy news that will put a smile on everyone’s faces,” Najib said at the start of his budget speech in Parliament last Friday.

He then said the government will spend a total of RM280.25 billion in 2018, up 7.5% from this year’s anticipated expenditure of RM260.8 billion. -FMT