“GIVE a man a fish, he eats for a day.  Teach a man to fish, he (and his family) eats for a lifetime.”

The RM250 billion so-called stimulus package by this backdoor government is perhaps the biggest sign yet that we have a terrifyingly incompetent government in our hands.

I’m no economist; I’m a small-business owner with a very simple business model. But even with my little knowledge, I can see that what has been put forward is nothing more than a poorly disguised, cheap attempt to buy votes in the next general election.

Except for the six-month moratorium on bank loans, and the money invested in the healthcare sector (no specifics, so lots of room for procurement shenanigans), everything else in there is about throwing free money at the masses.

Free money to government servants who already have a monthly income assured. Ditto free healthcare.

Free money to pensioners who have a monthly stipend paid directly into their accounts. Again, free healthcare.

Free money to singles, mainly young, salaried people employed by businesses. For our simple-minded government, this means the businesses are the ones that will keep these people employed. And with healthcare benefits. 

Free money to ride-hailing drivers, who will be back in a cash business the minute the #MCO is lifted.

Free money, free money, free money.

Three months worth of cash that will be splurged in one go rather than invested to ensure the sustainability of individuals, families, businesses.  

Who will ensure that Malaysia keeps going?

Where is the investment to spur businesses?

Where is the plan to keep production lines running, services going, people employed?

Where is the plan to keep sales and exports going, so that there is a constant funnel of income going into the pockets of employed people, who in turn spend to sustain the economy?

It is a crying shame that our new finance minister, who previously helmed CIMB Bank, didn’t stop to read the opening paragraphs of his own bank’s report, “SME Landscape in Malaysia”, developed in partnership with CompareHero. 

“But the facts are that our country’s economic fate does rely on the success of small and medium enterprises (SME). Don’t underestimate them, because despite their size, total contributions of SMEs in Malaysia are far from small. Just to share, 98.5% of all business establishments in Malaysia are SMEs, and in 2018, SMEs contributed RM521.7 billion of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). SMEs currently provide 5.7 million jobs to 70% of Malaysia’s workforce.”

Nothing in this so-called stimulus package to keep 98% of businesses going, 70% of the Malaysian workforce employed, and make up for the RM500 billion shortfall in GDP?

I can go on and on about where this package falls short, but you are all capable of reading it and make those judgments for yourself.

Locked in at home now, you have the power to research, understand, think.   

Don’t take the word of the opposition (they, too, have their share of incompetents) or my word, for that matter, for it.  

Use that phone of yours to google, to read, to talk to those whose views are bigger than yours, to small business owners about their problem.

Then, please do these four things:

1. Buy local as much as you can.  Support small businesses, especially those closest to you, so that your community survives beyond this government. 

2. Keep listening. When this #MCO is lifted, go out there wiser, more knowledgeable, and keep your eyes and ears open to what is really happening in this country. Understand who is working for you, rather than against you.  

3. Pick the guys who are in it for the country. Not for the vote. When the time comes to put vote to paper, pick the people who kept you and your business afloat. 

4. Connect and support. And if you are an SME, connect with other SMEs and support each other.  We are going to have to watch out for each other, because this #backdoorgovernment surely isn’t watching out for us.

* Sue D’Cruz reads The Malaysian Insight.

* 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.