MPs: Budget 2013 was people-first

THE Budget 2013 drew lots of praises from members of Parliament who we manage to catch after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak tabled it. Here are a few responses:

 

 

 

 

"The budget is towards a healthy economy. It is both comprehensive in its fiscal content and inclusive in its people-first intent. The fiscal policy will strengthen private sector as growth engine through enhancing rule-based and insentive-driven market for example increased budget to facilitate domestic investment, small-medium enterprises and small traders.

 

The people first concept is not just about giving goodies. More importantly it is strengthening tradition of equitable and socially efficient allocation. My ministry received a RM13.7 billion allocation which is a 15 per cent increase. It is no longer about access to higher education but quality higher education. R&D gets best incentive because it is now a permanent allocation (development expenditure). We can expect more innovation and commercialisation of R&D."

 

 

 

"The PM has announced a very good budget that did not leave any group out. The budget caters for the young, the women and the senior citizens. He also announced an additional RM100 million for national-type Tamil schools, (and) RM50 million for Indian community through Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usaha Niaga (TEKUN). It is a very good scheme which also saw reduced house prices."

 

 

"This is the best budget ever in decades. The rakyat should be supportive of it and accept it."

 

 

"This is a budget that provides lots of incentives to youths including incentives in education, study loan (PTPTN) discounts and book vouchers. Not only that the young people can look forward to owning a house in the city through my first house scheme, PR1MA, and Syarikat Perumahan Nasional Berhad (SPNB)."

 

 

 

"It is a pro-people budget. What impressed me most was the great emphasis placed on education and human resource development. This will go well with the future of the country and is in line with the National Education Blueprint. It also places emphasis on safety and security as well as quality of life. I am happy that Rukun Tetangga was given a special mention."

 

 

 

"Fundamentally, the budget really reinforces a risky culture that does not address Malaysian's fundamental weaknesses. I don't see any initiatiave to spur economic competition in the country and we are going to inherit a bankrupt nation."

 

 

 

"The government has introduced measures to reduce the crime rate as one of the initiatives under the NKRA and this is a recognition that gives motivation to all stakeholders, including the ministry. PM's announcement that the government will increase  the number of Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) personnel for patrolling and combatting crime has never been done in previous budgets.

 

I also applaud the move to provide 1,000 motorcycles to set up a Motorcycle Patrolling Unit to monitor housing areas. This shows that the PM's endorsements are not rhetoric. With this sort of support, we will continue the efforts to curb crime in the country.