2021 Unity Budget will not happen if 6 PH proposals rejected - Guan Eng

KUALA LUMPUR: The 2021 Unity Budget will not happen if the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government rejects the six key fiscal and financial measures put forward by Pakatan Harapan (PH) to save jobs, businesses and economy of the people of this country.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng in a statement on Monday said it was important for all parties to work together to formulate an effective Unity Budget to help the people overcome the economic recession caused by the COVID-19 epidemic.

"The 2021 Unity Budget will not happen if the PN government rejects six key fiscal and financial measures from PH in order to save the jobs, businesses and livelihood of Malaysians.

“DAP would like to reiterate that this Unity Budget is very important in upholding the royal decree which rejects the declaration of emergency for the country, avoids further requests for emergency and also avoids general elections in the near future, which will only aggravate the COVID-19 infection.

However, Guan Eng said the budget consultation process is not a show of support or acceptance of the political and moral legitimacy of the current PN government.

“PH has clearly stated that this budget consultation process does not show support or acceptance of the current political and moral legitimacy of the current Federal Government of PN.

"If one of the six key measures proposed by PH is rejected, then there will be no effective Unity Budget to benefit the country, the country's economy and Malaysians," he said.

Here are the six ideas proposed by PH to the Ministry of Finance for the Unity Budget 2021 which will be presented on November 6:

1. Increase the resources of the Ministry of Health for the COVID-19 outbreak and non-communicable diseases (NCD) with special allocation to address the COVID-19 crisis in Sabah;

2. Expand social protection, safety nets and welfare payments for the risky and unemployed by increasing monthly welfare assistance to RM1,000 until the COVID-19 crisis ends as promised by the Prime Minister in Sandakan on August 30 which will cost RM12 billion;

3. Extension of the bank loan repayment moratorium until 31 March 2021 which will cost RM6.4 billion;

4. Continue the wage subsidy until 31 March 2021 and create 600,000 jobs as per the MalaysiaKerja program by offering a 2-year incentive for employers and employees, which will cost RM13 billion;

5. Increased educational expenditure to ensure the continuity of education; and

6. Development expenditure for two major projects, namely, the National Optical Fibre and Connectivity Plan (NFCP) and water infrastructure upgrading for Selangor, Kelantan and Pahang.