Kota Kinabalu, Wednesday, November 05, 2008 : For all intents and purposes, the Deputy Prime Minister has indeed presented a markedly different budget from that presented by the Prime Minister to Parliament on 29 August 2008. The “new budget” contains revised GDP figures, inflation rates and new revenues and new expenditures. In effect, the Deputy PM has already changed the budget of the PM which is a slap in the face of the Prime Minister. However, even if an incoming PM has his own ideas, he still has to comply with parliamentary and legal procedures to get his pre-election budget approved by parliament.
The odd fact is that this 2009 budget was the first ever to be wound up by a Finance Minister who is not the same Finance Minister who tabled the original budget. This is caused by the mid-stream change of the finance portfolio on September 17 from Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi to Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak. The amendments to the original budget were only announced during the winding up of the debate on the budget. This seems irregular and unprecedented.
The 7 billion ringgit goodies to be churned out by the federal government are consistent with pre-election preparations. Deputy PM Dato Seri Najib might call early general elections to seek a new mandate, like other new Prime Ministers before him have done so. An early election will also avoid the politically risky consequences of a full blown economic recession and financial crisis that could hit Asia in 2009. If early elections are being prepared, then the people can expect more goodies on the way, such as civil servant bonuses, cash grants to organizations, tax incentives and reduction in levies.
Popular moves such as the release of the Hindraf 5, actions against illegal immigrants, liberalization of the economy and some anti-corruption actions are to be expected.
This is why PM Dato Seri Abdullah is now regarded as a “lame duck” Prime Minister who will have little, if any, chances of fulfilling his pledges to reform the judiciary and the police force, to fight corruption and improve the delivery system.
SAPP urges the State Government and the Sabah leaders serving in the Federal Cabinet to get the incoming Prime Minister to heed the voices of the people of Sabah on the many woes suffered by the people. For instance, to immediately cancel the 500 km Kimanis-Bintulu gas pipeline and instead, build a natural gas-powered plant in Sabah to fulfill the energy needs of Sabah .
The government must also disclose where the RM 1 billion announced by the Prime Minister for Sabah in May have gone to. As of now, there is no news of any projects attributed to the RM 1 billion.
The government should also urgently address the pressing challenges faced by the agricultural sector such as oil palm and rubber planters caused by rapidly falling prices. Reduction of foreign workers levies and improvements to the roads and basic infrastructures are long overdue.
Datuk Yong Teck Lee
President
SAPP
05/11/08
PEOPLE'S POWER
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