PRIME Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob must walk the talk about not marginalising ethnic minorities and be a leader for the entire nation, DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng said today. 

According to Lim, last year’s budget, the first for Ismail, showed obvious discrimination against the Chinese and Indian communities.

“In the 2022 Budget, RM11.4 billion was allocated for the Bumiputera community compared to a mere RM345 million for the Chinese and Indian communities put together,” the former finance minister said in a statement. 

“If we include the RM274 million for the Orang Asli community in the Bumiputera column, the RM345 million for the Chinese and Indian community is less than 3% of total funding. 

“No one opposes the funding for the Bumi and Orang Asli, but can Ismail explain why the Indian and Chinese communities deserve so little?” the Bagan MP said.

Lim said Ismail is not being honest or sincere in his assurances that the government will not marginalise Chinese communities this year. 

The former Penang chief minister said such assurances are easily dismissed as empty election rhetoric. 

“How can Ismail ensure that Budget 2023 is focused on the welfare and well-being of the people as a whole, when it is race-specific and not based on needs?” Lim asked. 

He claimed that even Malay economists had pointed out Ismail touting his Malay and Muslim government with particular emphasis on race and religion. 

They questioned the lack of fairness in Budget 2022, citing the massive disparity in funding for Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera communities.

Taking a swipe at the Bera MP, Lim said it is regrettable that it is only during the election season that Ismail talks about the different cultures, strengthening the relationship among the races, and allowing them to learn the philosophies of the cultures.

“I cannot recall him encouraging the hosting of Chinese cultural programmes before. 

“All we can remember is Ismail’s failed Digital Mall project in Kuala Lumpur exclusively for Bumiputera entrepreneurs,” he said. 

The government will present its budget for 2023 to parliament on October 7, earlier than originally scheduled. – September 20, 2022.