THE Malaysian budget tabling has over the years grown to be a much-anticipated annual event that traditionally sees Malaysians clamouring over their favourite news outlets, almost glued on them – television sets, radios, alternative news sites, social media or coffee shops.

Many of us try to absorb as much as possible over a span of a couple of hours, taking in as much information as our human brain allows on facts and figures shot out in rapid-fire fashion – the breakdown of allocations, changes on taxation rates, amount of cash handouts, changes in government policy or in the case of government servants and pensioners, if they will get any increments or bonuses in the coming year.

Almost immediately after the budget tabling is concluded, the TV channels screening it would usually have their own experts in their respective studios to discuss and smoothly dissect these huge chunks of data with a sort of rehearsed armchair wisdom that belie the fact that they too, only heard all of this, a few minutes ago. Yet they will speak with authority, saying general things about the budget, commonly calling it ‘balanced’, ‘election’, ‘people’s’ and other words that sound nice.

The opposition then weighs in, and recently, to their credit, began presenting an alternative budget.

They would also comment on the weaknesses of the budget, as it is their job.

But all this commentaries, means little to the student tuned in to find out if there are still free books for them under BB1M or the housewife who wants to know the rate of this years’ BR1M.

So what is a people’s budget, and who is ‘people’?

The income tax payer will want to know how much less they can get away with, or whether there are new categories for exemptions.

The drinker and the smoker will check if their guilty pleasures cost more next year.

Everyone rarely looks beyond their own backyards, and under the current economic uncertainty, you can’t really blame them. They feel that such decisions such as the Supply Bill is going to be passed anyway, and that they have little say in administrative matters.

That’s not really true.

A government budget is very much a political document. It is as much a manifesto as it is a fiscal plan. As such, unlike a business budget, it is affected not only by profit and loss, but also takes into consideration the various voter blocs, political pressure groups, lobbyists as well as the actions of their political adversaries.

 Take for example, Selangor’s free water programme for its citizens. Unprecedented, and previously thought impossible, it triggered a few other states to follow suit, including Perak, which had to continue the programme despite the state government shifting back into Barisan Nasional hands. Some even believe the exemption of electricity bills for those below RM20 came as a result of the pressure from Selangor’s move.

Sometimes, political pressure and lobbying may help. The RM200 fund for every Malaysian child is something children’s rights groups, anti-poverty NGOs as well as political parties within and outside BN have been asking for quite some time now.

Media also plays quite an important role. 

The allocation for tahfiz schools fire safety, for instance, was in part due to the constant highlighting of safety and the recent fires.  Apart from NGOs and the Opposition, they too play the part of watchdog to ensure what’s being presented to the public by the budgets, is what is actually implemented, and if not, we should ask why.

Similarly, a budget is meant to last till the next one. Supplementary budgets only indicate poor planning on the part of the government, or poor execution on the part of its staff, and neither should be tolerated.

A budget should also strive to be prudent. Ambitious programmes are good to have, but the basics, such as adequate supplies for hospitals, schools and equipment for civil servants and security personnel to perform their duties should take precedence.

Building on strengths or money spent is a good thing. Vocational training to produce railway experts, for example, is very much in line with global trends of demand for technical experts in specific areas. The same goes for scientific and technological pursuits.

What seems like good news should also be examined and questioned. The toll removals in this year’s budget, for example, should not affect other concessions, or it would not be in good faith. In considering their needs, people should also spare a thought for Malaysians who may not be able to voice out their own rights or needs, like minorities. If we say the government does not care for these groups, perhaps they would if we started to. If we looked beyond our backyards, support what is right and speak out against what isn’t. It’s impossible to achieve a budget that pleases everyone, but you certainly can get one that accommodates everyone.

Only then, can a budget truly be called a balanced, people’s budget. – October 31, 2017.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.