KUALA LUMPUR: The RM64 million allocation announced under Budget 2023, with most of the funds used to minimise the cost of living through goods price control and financial assistance, has been described as the best measure to help the people get out of the current economic difficulties.
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) Faculty of Economics and Muamalat senior lecturer Dr Muhammad Iqmal Hisham Kamaruddin, however, said that any provision of subsidy, assistance and incentives should be simplified so that the aid will continue to reach the people without having to deal with bureaucracy.
“To untangle this problem, modern technology should be widely used. For example, the provision of rubber incentives can be made directly into the accounts of small rubber tappers compared to the current practice of tappers having to go to the office to make a claim,” he said when contacted.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when tabling Budget 2023 yesterday, also asked the ministries concerned to ensure the funds are disbursed effectively and prevent any leakage.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Iqmal Hisham said that the government’s move in reducing the individual income tax rate by two per cent for the M40 group could benefit this group as it would result in an additional disposable income of RM1,300.
He said this was because some from the M40 group had, in dealing with the increasingly dire cost of living issues, slipped into the B40 group.
However, Assoc Prof Dr Nuradli Ridzwan Shah Mohd Dali, from the same faculty, begged to differ, describing the RM64 billion allocation to tackle the issue of livelihood among the people today as being insufficient.
“For me, the RM64 billion allocated by the government is insufficient. This is because the provision to the people involving subsidies and assistance requires a bigger amount,” he said.
However, he praised the government for implementing Jualan Rahmah and Bakul Rahmah, which to some extent provided the B40 group with the opportunity to purchase necessities at reasonable prices.
“Besides this, the contribution of up to RM2,500 (depending on the number of children) to households with a total income of less than RM2,500 is a good initiative, especially for the hardcore poor from the B10 and B20 groups.
“This measure by the government is a laudable move as it is aimed at helping to get this group out of poverty,” he said. – BERNAMA
