PETALING JAYA: Incentives and programmes under Budget 2025 must be elaborate and detailed, as it is being closely watched by the public, especially investors and market observers, says Datuk Radzi Md Jidin.
The Bersatu vice-president said it was a challenge for investors and market analysts to scrutinise Budget 2025 due to the lack of details.
“There is no explanation on revenue collected by SST and how its scope of collection will be expanded.
“The same goes for subsidies, the government did not explain how much is truly saved (from rationalising subsidies),” said Radzi during a press conference in Parliament on Friday (Oct 18).
“The government has to pay special attention here because this budget is being watched by many,” added Radzi.
Earlier, Anwar announced total allocations of RM421bil for Budget 2025, which consists of RM335bil for operational expenses, RM86bil for development expenses and RM2bil for miscellaneous spending, RM9bil for private-public joint venture projects, and direct domestic investments by GLICs worth RM25bil.
The amount is nearly RM40bil more than Budget 2024 tabled in October last year which was RM393.8bil, with 42.3% going to the Finance, Education and Health Ministries.
Meanwhile, Radzi also said Anwar did not mention whether equal allocations for MPs was included in Budget 2025.
Radzi said it was important to create a comprehensive political system where all leaders, regardless of their political affiliation, are given constituency development funds to assist the public.
“Young professionals who want to help the country through politics are reluctant due to the lack of funds to handle parliamentary areas.
“It doesn’t matter whether an elected representative is with the government or the Opposition, but this should be fair to everyone,” said Radzi.
“If we want youngsters to be involved in politics, we have to be fair to both sides (government and Opposition),” added Radzi.
Earlier this week, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman was the sole MP to respond to the draft MOU on allocations for Opposition MPs.
Zaliha also said Perikatan Nasional chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan rejected the draft MOU on allocations for Opposition MPs.
