Najib pooh-poohs Budget 2020, says BN's efforts better

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has criticised Budget 2020, saying it does not help the rakyat as much as previous budgets by the Barisan Nasional administration.

"I do not see (how) the Budget will make the rakyat happy, because if we look what will happen next year, the price of petrol will increase, the water tariff will also go up, and new taxes have been introduced, including the digital tax.

"This means that the cost of living will increase, while assistance especially to the civil servants, is not as much as what was offered by Barisan previously," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby on Friday (Oct 11).

Najib, who is also Pekan MP, said initiatives such as the 1Malaysia Peoples' Aid (BR1M) handout had been discontinued.

"If Barisan was still in power, the people might get RM2,000 or higher, based on our financial capabilities," he said.

He also doubted that the Budget 2020 would increase job opportunities as promised under the Pakatan Harapan manifesto.

"This is because the numbers of unemployed among fresh graduates have reached a critical level," said Najib.

He also noted that the petrol subsidy scheme would not give much benefit.

"Those who own 1,600cc cars will get a subsidy of RM1 per day? This is a joke, but we have to pay first when it is being floated," said Najib.

The price of RON95 will be floated gradually from January next year when the government rolls out its petrol subsidy.

Domestic Trade and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that only recipients of the Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH), who are based in Peninsular Malaysia, were entitled.

Car owners who are entitled to the scheme will receive RM120 every four months; and for motorcycle owners, RM48 every four months.

The recipients will get their payment via cash transferred into their bank accounts, with the first payment scheduled for April 2020.- Star