Lee Lam Thye: Budget 2021 shows govt cares for the people

KUALA LUMPUR: The RM322.5bil Budget 2021 is a reflection of a caring and people-centric budget to address the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic crisis confronting our nation.

Alliance for Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye (pic) said such a budget was necessary to rescue Malaysians and help rebuild lives, particularly those from low- and middle-income groups, traders and small businesses facing financial hardship.

"The budget is also needed to ensure the very survival of our economy and nation. The slew of goodies will be welcomed by all Malaysians, especially by those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic," he said in a statement on Saturday (Nov 7).

He added that Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Aziz announced various incentives, reliefs and handouts in his speech in Parliament on Friday (Nov 6) and this did not involve any increase in taxes.

"There was something for almost everybody to safeguard their lives and livelihoods. It reaches the young, the elderly and the B40 group to help them tide over these challenging times," he said.

Lee added that businesses were not forgotten, with tax cuts being given to employers who hire senior citizens, former inmates and former drug addicts.

"Such incentives will encourage more employers to employ former prisoners and addicts instead of foreign workers," he added.

Lee said that the third wave of Covid-19 had proved that it was essential for the government to provide adequate funds to fight the pandemic.

"We need to provide more resources for public health, which has not been given its due attention. We need to invest more in public health which will give more returns and dividends. Prevention is better than cure," he said.

Lee said that the overall allocation of RM31.9bil for the Health Ministry was inadequate as there were many health aspects to take care of, including the rise in mental health issues in the country.

He also said that the government must deal with any leakages in the system.

"Every year, the Auditor-General has been highlighting the problem of serious leakages in his annual report," he said.

Lee added that all departments charged with the responsibility of implementing the proposals must ensure they do so with utmost integrity.

"All departments and agencies must beef up their integrity committees to prevent leakage, which is a bane to our nation.

"We must have the political will to overcome this once and for all," he said.