Pakatan’s alternative budget aims to save ‘crashing economy’

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan has released an alternative budget ahead of Friday’s 2017 Budget announcement by the Prime Minister.

The alternative budget, which will apparently save the country over RM10bil, is Pakatan’s way to save the “crashing economy” of the nation, said Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (pic).

“We have a weak economy and we might face an economic crisis next year. So here we are making suggestions again although the Government never heeds them,” she said at a press conference during the launch of the alternative budget at the Parliament building Wednesday.

Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen said that the alternative budget will also curb issues such as corruption and poverty.

Pakatan’s budget presented 11 policy proposals that include equal opportunity in employment and entrepreneurship.

“This will ensure that any discrimination on the basis of race, religion or sex faces punishment by an independent Equal Opportunity Commission.

“Other policies include increasing wages of workers, reducing foreign labour, fighting systemic corruption and allowing Sabah and Sarawak to receive a fair share of revenue generated there,” he said.

The budget also seeks to improve public transportation, ensure self-sufficiency and food security and allocate enough funds for the healthcare system.

Wong added that Pakatan’s economic prudence and political will aim “to reform rickety institutions” that have failed to support all Malaysians justly.