BUDGET 2021 has failed to address five crises plaguing the country, said Lim Guan Eng.

“Take the health crisis for instance. With Covid-19 affecting the country now, why give it a 4.3% increase in allocation, when last year’s budget was (increased) 6.6%,” said Lim during the Budget 2021 debate in Dewan Rakyat today.

“The increase in health budget during a non-Covid-19 time is higher than during the pandemic. And more than that, there were cuts to pharmaceutical items under the Ministry of Health,” said the Bagan MP.

Lim, a former finance minister, said the other crises which Budget 2021 failed to address was economy, political, education and confidence. 

He said there appeared to be very few incentives for SMEs and companies who have suffered from the various Covid-19 lockdowns.

“In this regard, the government should extend the loan moratorium to all instead of applying a targeted approach,” said Lim.

He said the targeted approach only helps 445,000 businesses while an automatic moratorium is applicable to eight million Malaysians and companies. 

“The targeted approach doesn’t even help 10% of the people,” said the DAP secretary-general.

Lim said Budget 2021 also failed to assuage the various political problems plaguing the Perikatan Nasional government.

“Going by what Najib Razak (Pekan-BN) said earlier, I wonder if the BN ministers have given their feedback on this budget. Or if the budget is even approved by the cabinet before it was tabled last week,” said Lim.

Earlier, Najib said BN would support Budget 2021 only if the government agrees for the loan moratorium be extended to June 2021 and EPF withdrawal be enabled in one lump sum instead of over 12 months.

Lim said the opposition was willing to assist the government under such “extraordinary” times and should be invited to the National Economic Council. 

He also questioned why Budget 2021 had allocated RM85.5 million to revive government propaganda unit Jasa, when the money was needed elsewhere.

“As a result of the lockdown, our students have only gone to school for four months. But when you look at this budget, the increase in allocation (for education) is just 1% compared to the overall 8% increase for the total budget.

“To top it off, there is even a budget for Jasa. Is this necessary?” said Lim. – November 10, 2020.