[ad_1]
PETALING JAYA: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has criticized the 2021 budget for failing to show the government’s plans to stimulate and boost the nation’s economic recovery.
Anwar said the lack of recovery plans was the main weakness of the budget. It also did not show concrete plans to resolve the unemployment situation and help workers who have recently been laid off.
“One-time payments of RM 500 are not the answer. We also mentioned earlier the loan moratorium, which I think the finance minister takes the side of the interests of the banks instead of those of the borrowers and the economy, “he said today in a video.
Anwar, who is the chairman of Pakatan Harapan, said that several projections made in the budget were concerning, including estimates for income and corporate taxes, which were a reduction of 4 billion ringgit compared to 2019.
“It is difficult to accept these figures because many companies are near bankruptcy or face losses or made small profits, except for some firms like Top Glove.”
He also questioned why the Department of Special Affairs of the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia receives 80 million ringgit while the poor and disabled community receives a much smaller allocation.
He said Putrajaya should be more transparent and state the facts about the budget, adding that the opposition will raise these issues and figures in Parliament.
