Bouquets and brickbats for budget from netizens

 

Some netizens claim that the budget was more for civil servants than those in the private sector. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Some netizens have questioned the rationale for some of the allocations under Budget 2023 while others have chosen to see the good that it brings.

Facebook user Zainal Aziz expressed dissatisfaction, claiming that the allocations were mainly focused on civil servants.

“All (the allocations) are for the public servants, what about the private (sector)?” he said.

Another netizen, Facebook user Tok Puteh, also claimed there was nothing in the budget for Malaysians who are working in the private sector.

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Among the allocations for the civil service announced by finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz are a RM100 increment for all civil servants from Grade 11 to Grade 57, a RM350 one-off aid for a million retired civil servants, and an increase in Aidilfitri aid for civil servants to RM600.

Meanwhile, Twitter user @FranciscoPier1 claimed that it is being used by the Barisan Nasional-led government to fish for votes in the run up towards the 15th general election.

“Big budget, but does it mean more debt? Where and who pays the bill down the line? Tax breaks are good, but after elections, will the tax rate jump? Inflated military budget. At whose expense and whose benefit?” he said in a post.

Another Facebook user by the name of M Ekamotsu San said the Budget 2023 only contained sweet promises.

“This is just sweet talk, the government will not deliver. Don’t get too excited, we’ve been lied to many times before,” they said.

However, some netizens preferred to view it positively.

Facebook user Siti Nurihan Salim said the RM150 education aid for all students, regardless of their parents’ incomes, was good.

One Twitter user said the RM1.8 billion allocation to purchase new equipment for hospitals and clinics was also praiseworthy.

“Alhamdulillah, more medical equipment for public hospitals and their staff. I’ve had to do a heart MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan at a private hospital due to lack of equipment,” the Twitter user said.

Another Twitter user, Naim, welcomed the government’s RM350 million allocation for the orang asli community, saying it was timely. - FMT