Budget 2021 important to enhance workers' skills, revive aviation industry

An aviation expert, Captain (Rtd) Abdul Rahmat Omar Tun Mohd Haniff said the airline companies, among the economic sectors most affected by the pandemic, were expected to suffer greater losses and potentially go bankrupt, if there are no affirmative measures are to help the aviation industry.

He said if the 2021 Budget, which was being debated in the Dewan Rakyat, is not passed, it would affect economic development, including the tourism sector, thus stifling all proposals and measures to reverse the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Even now, we see how empty the shopping malls are, as well as hotels, due to the lack or absence of visitors. Of course, when there is less, or no attraction, or no business opportunities, then the losses of airlines will increase," he told Bernama.

Recently, the media reported on the possibility of the 2021 Budget not being approved after several Barisan Nasional MPs and the opposition expressed conditional support for the budget, which was tabled by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government last Nov 6.

During the debate session on the Supply Bill 2021, involving a total allocation of RM322.5 billion and the biggest ever in the country's history, some MPs submitted views that amendments should be made, including on the 'one-off' withdrawal of up to RM10,000 from Account 1 of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and extension of the moratorium for six months until June 2021 to help those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abdul Rahmat Omar said the allocation of RM50 million in the 2021 Budget to train and relocate 8,000 airline employees who lost their jobs could overcome the problem of unemployment and provide opportunities for the employees to venture into other sectors.

"The proposal is similar to the 1Malaysia Training Scheme (SL1M) which was once held for unemployed graduates. Based on statistics, 2.1 percent of the total jobs in the private sector have not been filled, meaning there are 179,000 vacancies," he added.

Meanwhile, a former flight attendant, Mohamad Aizamuddin Zakry, 33, who lost his job in June, opined that if the budget is not approved, it will add to the burden and pressure on the affected airline staff.

"Most of those affected are married and have commitments, like I, myself, have not been paid salary since March. Even if you have savings, you will run out of it, if not employed for along time. Not that I do not look for a job, but there are no job opportunities," he said.

Sharing Mohamad Aizamuddin's views is Md Arif Kasim, 36, also a former flight attendant, who said that the allocation is important to enable staff of the affected airlines to acquire new skills, hence providing them with added-value in other fields of employment.

"Job opportunities are very limited, especially in unrelated fields that require experience and skills. We can use our working experience. God willing, I am confident we are able to adapt and learn quickly," he added.

A former pilot, Captain Azrin Mohamad Zawawi, 44, said courses in real estate investment and entrepreneurship would provide skills that could be a catalyst for those affected to build new lives and career.

"These people may have the interest and enthusiasm to venture into other jobs, but need help and support, for example, to do business, not everyone has the talent and interest in business, but may be able to try other fields that are more suitable," he said.