Opposition wishlist for Budget 2021

 

As budget day draws closer, several opposition parties have articulated what they wish to see in Budget 2021 at a time when Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is counting on their support.

Muhyiddin has rallied for bipartisan support for Budget 2021, which will be tabled in Parliament on Nov 6, as it will assist many in financial hardships due to Covid-19.

Below is a summary of what opposition parties are asking for, arranged by themes.

Blanket loan moratorium

Pakatan Harapan has sought an extension of the loan moratorium programme until March 31 next year. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng estimated that this would cost the government RM6.4 billion.

Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) wants a loan moratorium until June 2021.

There has been one round of blanket loan moratoriums so far which lasted for six months between April 1 and Sept 30.

Following this, Putrajaya arranged for a loan moratorium that would target only those who have lost their jobs, while individuals and businesses that can prove a reduced income are allowed to renegotiate their loan terms.

Critics such as the Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) said this scheme was not good enough, because some families have two breadwinners, whereby one spouse who loses a job may not necessarily be the person undertaking a loan.

PKR and DAP leaders have previously argued their case for a blanket loan moratorium because banks would not be severely affected while the economy at large was.

Labour

Harapan and Muda have urged the government's wage subsidy scheme to continue. For Harapan, the cut-off date should be March 31 next year while Muda mooted a June cut-off.

Harapan proposed an expansion of its previous administration's "Malaysia@Work" incentive for employers to hire locals. The scheme was supposed to begin in Q2 this year, but has yet to be implemented by the current government.

Additionally, PKR wants to see job creation in the green technology sector and to incentivise some sectors which saw rapid growth, such as the glove-making industry, to hire more locals.

Muda suggested that more grants be given for upskilling and retraining the unemployed, with a focus on the renewable energy industry. It also proposed additional grants and tax reliefs for firms that hire locals or fresh graduates and work towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Welfare

Harapan has proposed a monthly welfare payment of RM1,000 for the needy until the Covid-19 crisis ends and increase the number of registrations for the E-Kasih and Employee Insurance Scheme (EIS).

It also seeks additional funds to address domestic abuse, mental illnesses, abuse of the elderly and addressing malnutrition among children.

Muda called for a two-month bonus for all frontliners - health workers, police and military - as a sign of appreciation for their contributions in the war against Covid-19.

Investment

Harapan wants allocations to develop the National Fiberisation and Connectivity Plan and improve water infrastructure for Selangor, Kelantan and Pahang.

Muda has mooted funds to be allocated to attract investments in sustainable energy which it argued would help create high-value jobs and address climate change.

Education

Harapan said allocations for education must increase to improve e-learning and design a curriculum for home-based learning.

The funds must also cover increasing the number of teachers and classes in schools to fulfil physical distancing requirements.

Muda recommended a "one family, one laptop" scheme which involved a free computer and a RM1,000 allowance for each family for e-learning purposes.

The new party also suggested that each university student be paid RM50 monthly for e-learning purposes over a period of six months.

Health

Harapan hoped for more allocation for the Health Ministry to acquire vaccines, identify vulnerable groups and provide just payments for frontliners.

The funds should also be used to increase the number of temporary staff to deal with the Covid-19 crisis in Sabah.

Democracy

Muda proposed that all MPs - whether opposition or government - be given the same amount of allocations in order to decentralise the issuance of government aid for their constituents. - Mkini