Early Budget good for business

Positive outlook: (From left) Lee, Khoo and Kam hope Budget 2023 will be good for the business community.

GEORGE TOWN: For the business community, the sign of a possible general election soon would mean more stability for them.“The most important thing for the economy is a steady government and policies.

“Hopefully, the election will help stabilise the government because from an investment point of view, it is not as stable as it can be right now,” Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers Penang chairman Datuk Lee Tiong Li said.

He urged the government to show empathy for businesses trying to rise from the impact of the pandemic.

“The rising cost of living and shortage of labour need to be addressed,” he said, adding that Budget 2023 should provide incentives to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Malaysian Association of Hotels national vice-president Datuk Khoo Boo Lim said occupancy rates could be expected to rise if the election was brought forward.

“When there is an election, people run around more and travel for meetings. Hotels will benefit from this.

“If it is held during the school holidays, many people may just make trips home to cast their votes and have a break at the same time,” he said.

On Budget 2023, Khoo said his association had many proposals and was eager to see how many of them would be reflected in the plan.

Yesterday, The Star broke the news that Budget 2023, which was scheduled to be tabled on Oct 28, will now be moved forward to Oct 7.

Small and Medium Enterprises Association of Malaysia (Samenta) national president Kam Lian Hooi said the date of Budget 2023 being brought forward would not make much difference.

“As long as there is enough time for deliberation based on feedback that the government requested, then it should be fine.

“Samenta was asked to share our wishlist for the Budget and we have sent it,” he said.

In JOHOR BARU, local business groups appear receptive to the move to bring forward the tabling of Budget 2023, saying they hope it will do more good for Malaysia.

“We hope that Budget 2023 will feature a comprehensive and good plan to support SMEs that are still struggling after two years of the pandemic,” said Johor South SME Association adviser Teh Kee Sin.

He said that these businesses really needed government support through Budget 2023 to put them on the right track of recovery.

“The business community, in particular SMEs, are tired with the political drama taking place in our country. We hope that the elected representatives will put Malaysia’s need, especially the economy, above their own personal need,” he said when contacted.

Teh believed that the decision to bring forward Budget 2023 was linked to the 15th General Election (GE15).

Iskandar Malaysia Johor Chamber of Commerce and Industry adviser Md Salikon Sarpin said the government must make a thorough preparation for Budget 2023 if it would be tabled earlier.

“It must address several economic issues affecting the people such as spike in prices, unemployment, wages, and attract more investments into the country,” he said.

Johor Indian Business Association president P. Sivakumar said that tabling the Budget earlier was a clear sign that GE15 was getting closer.

“It is good that GE15 may be held after Budget 2023 as it would provide political stability.

“Our country needs political stability to help us recover quickly from the global recession and inflation that is taking place,” he added.

In IPOH, political leaders in Perak were of the view that GE15 was nearing.

Perak MCA Youth chief Daniel Wa believed that the general election was not far off.

“I think the general election should be around the corner,” said Wa, who is also MCA Youth national secretary-general.

Perak Opposition leader Dr Abdul Aziz Bari said that it was “totally normal” and “nothing unusual” to bring forward the tabling of Budget 2023.

“Even if this is an indication of an earlier general election, we are prepared for it,” he said.

“Most of the Pakatan Harapan elected representatives have not stopped working from the day the Pakatan government collapsed,” he said when contacted.

He said that most of the seats had been settled, citing the example that Malay-majority areas would be contested by Parti Amanah Negara.

“The only thing left for us is to discuss the seats left by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia when they quit Pakatan. Discussions are ongoing,” he added.

Abdul Aziz reiterated his wish to stand in the Tambun parliamentary seat against the incumbent and Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

“I have been working since the first day I won the Tebing Tinggi state seat. I am aiming for Tambun,” he said.