MOST economists agree that the government needs to pump cash into the economy to cushion the Covid-19-triggered recession.

Putrajaya needs to stop with reviving construction-based mega projects and execute community based micro projects to put money in people’s pockets.

Mega project benefits certain large corporations, some outsourcing small and medium enterprises and a few capitalists.

Mega projects may boost the gross domestic product but it does not create jobs or put money in people’s pockets.

Instead of training and paying local workers, construction companies increase their profits by overworking and underpaying foreign labourers.

Putrajaya should give money to communities to spend on their respective housing areas, community spaces, local infrastructure, hospitals and schools.

As an example: establish a committee within a school consisting of parents, teachers, management and supporting staff to immediately identify, fix and improve the schools.  

Putrajaya could fund the school committees to hire people in their respective communities who have lost jobs or income to execute the micro projects. 

Such schemes can be emulated nationwide at Orang Asli settlements, neighbourhoods, hospitals, people’s housing projects, Felda settlements, fisherman’s villages, among others.

Open-ended community-led micro projects will solve local problems including collapsing school roofs, damaged football fields, and absence of street lights.

These measures will put money in pockets of the most vulnerable in exchange for improving communities while waiting for economy and job market to recover.

However, right-wing career politicians must stop demanding grandiose ceremonies to honour themselves as lots of public funds are spent to uplift the Yang Berhormat instead of uplifting the communities.

Instead, the elected reps must sit in the community meetings to help to ease government bureaucracies. – August 26, 2020.

* Sharan Raj is Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s central committee member.

* 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.