2021 Budget a description of MPs prioritising the people - Analyst

KUALA LUMPUR: The 2021 Budget, which is described as the unity budget, is the new starting point for the country, which gives the impression that the Malaysian MPs give more priority to the people amidst political differences.

Economic analyst, Datuk Dr Madeline Berma said the people certainly do not want to see a budget that aims to flatten the pandemic curve and economic contraction is eventually rejected in the name of 'politicking'.

She said it was a new norm in national politics where the government and the opposition discussed together before passing the budget in Parliament later.

"When I heard about the unity budget, I most welcome it and I am confident that so are Malaysians.

"We do not want a good budget that gives priority to flatten the pandemic curve and economic contraction curve is rejected in the name of politicking," she said when interviewed by Astro AWANI here, on Monday.

In the meantime, Dr Madeline said, the government should provide targeted assistance to the sectors affected by COVID-19.

"The assistance should be given in a targeted manner instead of pouring water. It means it targets sectors affected by the pandemic such as hospitality, tourism and so on," she added.

Apart from that, she said, the government also needs to consider assistance to industries that are growing rapidly and are able to digitize in maintaining existing jobs and also create new job opportunities.