Revision of 2016 Budget for interest of the less-affordable group

The revision of the 2016 Budget to be carried out by the government to cushion the impact of plunging oil prices and various economic factors is hoped will not have drastic adverse effects on the people's lives.

Social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye hoped that the government would come up with a strategy to amicably amend the allocation made during the tabling of the 2016 Budget last October by giving priority to the less-affordable group.

He said the 2016 Budget had to be revised to enable the country to be more realistic in facing the present economic situation which was becoming more challenging.

"The people have to accept this fact, but in making the amendments, we hope there will be no action that will affect the livelihood of the people, especially the less-affordable group who are being burdened with the rising cost of living.

"For example, the distribution of the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M)... we hope it will be maintained and allocations for other matters involving the welfare of the low-income earners will not be cut," he told Bernama here today.

Lee, who is also chairman of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) and the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS), also hoped that the revision would not involve a cut in the allocation for road safety programmes.

"I hope there will be no cut in the allocation for agencies, including under the Transport Ministry, for example MIROS, that can affect promotional activities to prevent road accidents and road safety programmes," he added.

Last Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that the government would table a revision of the 2016 Budget to make it more realistic to suit the present economic situation.