IF A ‘B40’ CAN AFFORD TO DRIVE A 1,000CC MOTORBIKE – SHOULD HE GRIPE ABOUT NOT ENOUGH DIRECT CASH HANDOUTS – EVEN AS WOMEN WHO CAN HELP RAISE HOUSEHOLD INCOME CELEBRATE GUAN ENG’S BUDGET 2020

FOR Zaidi Othman, RM12 per month to subsidise the cost of RON95 for his motorcycle is a drop in the ocean for the 50-year-old father of eight.

“These days, you fill up a 1,000 CC motorcycle, it costs you RM7 to RM8. So, giving me RM12 per month is like helping me fill up once per month,” said Zaidi who works at a real estate firm.

The Klang resident is one of several low-income earners who felt that Pakatan Harapan’s Budget 2020 could have done more for B40 families like his, who earn less than RM4,000 a month.

This is especially with the expected hike in petrol prices next year when the government implements its targeted fuel subsidy programme (PSP).

Under the PSP, B40 households get RM12 per month for one motorcycle or RM30 per month for one car to help subsidise the cost of RON95 whose price will be floated in stages next year.

However, some B40 families have welcomed incentives, such as the one to assist women who re-enter the workforce, the reduction of tolls on some highways and special allowance for civil servants.

Zaidi, from Terengganu but works in Klang, also questioned what he claimed was the budget’s bias towards west coast states and Sabah and Sarawak, saying that there appeared to be less funds for Kelantan and Terengganu.

“The toll discounts for PLUS and the inter-city highways will not benefit people in Kelantan and Terengganu much. They still have to pay full toll for the LPT (East Coast Highway),” Zaidi told The Malaysian Insight.

In its RM297 billion budget for next year, Putrajaya announced that tolls under PLUS Highways Bhd could be reduced an average of 18%, while four inter-city highways will see their tolls replaced with congestion charges.

Not just aid

There is also an increase of allowances and aid for farmers, fishermen and small rubber and oil palm planters.

Allowances for fishermen during the monsoon season was raised to RM250 per month while RM200 million was also earmarked to aid rubber planters during the rainy season.

Although they welcomed the aid, planters and fishermen said they are expecting more creative measures to boost incomes in their respective industries.

“The allowances are good but there were no details on programmes for fishermen,” said Penang fisherman Nazri Ahmad.

Nazri had been waiting for details on whether the government will continue with the subsidised diesel scheme for fishermen and programmes to increase their income under the Fisheries Development Board (LKIM).

“What is important is the allocations from LKIM and how we are going to support the community.”

Ainol Salleh Shafie also echoed these concerns for the rubber industry, saying that tappers and planters hoped for more than just allowances.

“The monsoon aid is good but it doesn’t solve our problems. What we want is for the price of rubber to go up to RM4 or RM3 per kilo. If the price goes up, then we won’t need the aid.”

Ainol proposed that the government use its aid to set up processing plants to buy up latex produced by planters and tappers to keep prices up.

Motivation

Laura Michael is grateful for Budget 2020’s allocations for rural Sabah and its special programme to help housewives like her re-enter the job market.

“I quit to focus on the family for years. I’m thinking of getting back to work again. The minimum wage of RM1,200 plus the RM500 incentive to encourage women to join the workforce will certainly help a lot around the house,” said the 43-year-old mother of three.

To encourage mothers to return to the workforce, Budget 2020 gives employers who rehire female workers an incentive of RM300 per month while the women themselves are eligible for tax breaks.

“I’m also looking forward to lesser blackouts in the near future, better roads linking my house in Sugud Penampang to the town, and better water supply as we are using gravity feed sources at present,” she said.

Budget 2020 allocated a total of RM970 million for better water and electricity supplies in rural Sabah and Sarawak.

Firefighters will receive a special allowance of RM200 per month while other civil servants, such as doctors, nurses, policemen and soldiers, will receive a one-time special payment of RM500.

“I am very grateful for the special allowance because Bomba has asked for this for a very long time. It will motivate us to perform even better in our jobs,” said Faiz, a firefighter in Kedah.

THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT