Pakatan’s shadow budget fails to meet people’s needs

Syed Umar Ariff, NST

THE handle of a steel ladle rested firmly on the mouth of a white ceramic pot, as the spoon’s bowl lay beneath in the thick, glistening gravy of an aromatic fish curry dish.

“This is wrong. You don’t use a ladle to serve curry,” Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir complained during a dinner at his official residence.

Now, Zambry loves his food and everything else related to it.

For instance, he knows the exact spices to go with the type of fish, and the best place to savour dishes.

Zambry’s particular interest in food is, in a light-hearted way, a method of finding what fits the bill when it comes to matters that can be considered as complex.

The correlation can be a tad ludicrous to some, but much can be learned about a person from how he likes his food to be.

It is about doing things right.

Arguably, Barisan Nasional is successful in illustrating its overall commitment in terms of forging a closer rapport with the people on the ground from Zambry and his team’s permukiman efforts to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak rolling up his sleeves to check on the Mass Rapid Transit rides, or whether the stadium’s pitch is ready for the Sea Games, for example.

It was something even admitted by pro-opposition activist Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan when she tweeted: “Najib was on the ground even during the Sea Games. Don’t say the mainstream media is unfair. Online is fair, but mainly reporting about squabbles.”

Whatever the controversies raised by detractors, the narrative shown and deliberated by the ruling party remains on course along the lines of meeting the people’s needs, as is clearly seen in the 2018 Budget.

The budget has been hailed as uniquely attentive to social needs, with income tax reduction and cash assistance, among others.

For example, it expounded on measures of how those from the B40 and M40 categories, could bring in additional sources of income.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Vice-Chancellor Tan Sri Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali described the budget as creative and innovative, able to meet the fiscal needs of wage-earners and spur economic growth.

“When we talk about the cost of living, people tend to be focused on prices of necessities or items.

“But, we have to realise that what is different about the budget is that it is focused on income opportunities.

“If we look at what was tabled in Parliament, the budget is tailored to increase the number of entrepreneurs.

“You can find many avenues (especially in terms of capital) for Malaysians to seek funds for businesses.”

Of course, there are those who describe it as an “election budget” because of the impending 14th General Election.

But, if that is our only denominator, it means Pakatan Harapan’s shadow budget is also designed to woo voters.

That would be the common perception.

The term “election budget” stands as a loose — or selective — label since one can always argue that it is not wrong to propose an expansive budget, especially if the fiscal expenditure plan is sound, as attested by objective analyses.

Conversely, the shadow budget proposed by the Pakatan pact is largely dictated by the need to regurgitate issues, and less on addressing social needs.

This is despite lacing it with figures in billions and percentage, with the numbers appearing out of nowhere.

For instance, where did the figure “RM20 billion” which supposedly could be saved from “wastage in government spending and corruption” come from?

Political analyst Professor Dr Azizuddin Mohd Sani said the shadow budget was at best, an election manifesto.

“It is unrealistic, and not substantive. For example, what is the alternative to the Goods and Services Tax since the opposition wants to abolish it?

“What does the opposition want to illustrate through its fiscal plans?

“Based on the plans laid out under the 2018 Budget, the ruling party paints a picture of what the future holds beyond 2018 and the 14th General Election.”

The 2018 Budget has been seen as realistic and lauded by many, even by some opposition lawmakers.

Pakatan, on the other hand, has failed to illustrate a budget with the people’s interests at heart and its plans for the future. That is the story that is often overlooked by those who are skewed in their assessment.