2021 Budget: Focus on tourism, target groups and efforts to overcome COVID-19 - Ahmad Faizal

KUALA LUMPUR: The 2021 Budget is expected to focus on the tourism sector and the target groups that are severely affected by COVID-19.

Apart from that, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu said the 2021 Budget agenda should also focus on efforts to overcome the epidemic.

"We also need to plan and take early actions to boost the country's economy after COVID-19 but I think most importantly the welfare of the people must come first.

"The 2021 budget must focus on our efforts to prosper the people's economy," he told Astro AWANI, on Saturday.

Commenting further, the Deputy President of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) added, the 2021 Budget is also expected to help the state government re-empower the people.

Among them, said Ahmad Faizal, the Perak state government plans to open idle lands for agricultural purposes.

"So I see in the short term this is the opportunity for those who are severely affected and have to stop working to enter the field of agriculture and the state government can open the idle lands so that they can work.

"At the same time, I hope the 2021 Budget can help the state government's efforts to help the affected, possibly with the help of capital in the field of agriculture," he added.

In a similar development, Ahmad Faizal said the government needed to reduce its dependence on imports of agricultural products.

As of 2019, total imports of agricultural products have reached almost RM50 billion.

The 2021 budget is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament on No. 6.