KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders have joined Malaysians in their demand for cheaper homes particularly to cater to the country’s growing middle-income population as property prices begin to soar past income levels.
When polled by The Malaysian Insider, topping their list of wishes for Budget 2013 was affordable housing, followed by improvements to public transportation, a more structured, needs-based subsidy system, better allocation for education and welfare aid.
“I would like to see affordable houses for all levels of the population including the Indian community,” said MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel.
“Affordable housing for low- and middle-income groups, especially wage earners,” Gerakan deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Youn said when asked for his wish list.
The former Perak state executive councillor pointed out that property prices have rocketed beyond the buying abilities of an average Malaysian, taking away the dream to own a home from any young, working adult.
“More affordable homes for first-time buyers,” said Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.
“More affordable housing for wage earners and young professionals,” MCA central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker suggested, echoing the views of his colleagues from BN.
Joining the chorus, Umno Senator Datuk Ikhwan Sujak said there was a need to control speculation in the property market to prevent the prices of houses from being driven up. “Typically, there is a need for houses, a RM400,000 house is cheap compared to others, but there is a need to focus more on affordability,” the leader said.
Several BN leaders also stressed the need for improvements to the present public transportation system.
The MIC’s P. Kamalanathan said there was a need to improve rural-urban connectivity with a more organised transportation system.
Rural transportation, he said, was an essential ingredient to bringing development to rural communities.
“We need good roads and timely public transport. Better infrastructure, a more organised and systematic rural transformation is needed... at least you could then easily connect the rural and urban townships,” he said.
Umno’s Datuk Hasan Arifin said public transport should be placed among the top few priorities in the government’s budget expenditure for next year.
He pointed out that a more efficient and cheaper public transportation system would increase urban and rural connectivity and at the same time help lower the prices of properties.
“The government must also look at ways to reduce urban poverty and the cost of living, generating a better quality of life,” he said.
The former deputy Pahang mentri besar said the government also needed to review its current tax structure, including introducing the highly-controversial goods and services tax (GST), which was earlier placed on the back burner following public outcry.
Other leaders appeared to agree that the country needed to broaden its tax base, with some suggesting a more structured subsidy system that would only benefit the poor instead of the high-income earners.
Kamalanathan pointed out that at present, petrol subsidies benefit the rich more.
“The poor folk can barely afford cars or small cc motorcycles so they hardly benefit from fuel subsidies. But those with larger cc vehicles consume more petrol and therefore use up more of the subsidy allocation than the poor.
“A new system is needed so that subsidies only reach those who really need them,” the Hulu Selangor MP said.
Agreeing, Chang pointed out that owners of big and expensive vehicles do not need to be recipients of such subsidies.
“Restructure the subsidies on petrol as the current system benefits the rich more than the poor. The subsidy must focus on the middle- and low-income groups,” he said.
Budget 2013, to be tabled today by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, is expected to be an “election budget” tailored to help BN woo votes ahead of the coming polls.
According to a Reuters report yesterday, the budget will forecast a smaller deficit for 2013 but will stop shot of major reforms on tax and subsidies, likely out of fear of public backlash so close to the elections.
Budget 2013 wish list from BN leaders:
Umno Senator Datuk Ikhwan Salim Sujak
“We need to bring down taxes, both corporate and individual. We also need to begin implementing the goods and services tax (GST), begin slow implement to collect more income. There has been widespread misinformation on the GST.
“There is also a need to assist the middle-income group which has grown quite a bit, and tax deductions should help.
“For housing there is a need to control speculation and Bank Negara needs to correct this.
“Subsidies must slowly come down in line with increasing incomes; in fact incomes must have a net increase higher than the lowering of subsidies.”
Umno’s Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi, Deputy Minister of Education
“I hope there is good news for teachers and the allocation for education will be higher. We need more funds to successfully start off the implementation of the blueprint which begins next year.”
Umno Senator Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain
“The two main things that should be focused on are funding to develop affordable housing and also to fund more programmes for women.”
Umno’s Datuk Warno Dogol, Sabak Bernam assemblyman
“There should be funds allocated for emergency assistance for farmers and fishermen to cope with disasters such as floods and blights which wipe out their income.
“There is also a need for more low-cost housing, there is a lot of demand here.”
Umno’s Datuk Hasan Arifin, former Pahang deputy mentri besar
“Reviews need to happen in the housing sector, the tax structure and the GST, which should only be implemented if everyone understands it.
“Public transport needs to be a very high priority. If it is good and cheap, there will be lower prices for housing.
“The government must also look at ways to reduce urban poverty and the cost of living, generating a better quality of life.”
Sabah Umno secretary Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, Kota Belud MP
“For Sabah, there needs to be increased allocations in infrastructure. While there are funds allocated under the NKRA, it needs to be expedited.
“I also hope the federal government allows the Sabah state government to determine the priority of projects.
“As for Kota Belud itself, I am quite concerned about the water supply and roads.”
Shah Alam Wanita Umno division chief Radziah Ahmad
“There needs to be more allocated for projects that can assist single mothers. The budget must also include provisions that will encourage corporations to provide more jobs for women.”
MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel
“I would like to suggest that Budget 2013 looks at reducing or abolishing taxes for cars with capacity of 2,000cc and below.
“I would like to see a good allocation from the annual national budget for the socio-economic upliftment of the Indian community and bring the community into the mainstream of economic development.
“I would also like to see affordable houses for all levels of the population including the Indian community.
“I would like to see more allocation for development of Tamil schools and more opportunities for higher education as well as financial assistance for them to continue their studies.”
MIC’s P. Kamalanathan
“We need good roads and timely public transport. Better infrastructure, a more organised and systematic rural transformation is needed... at least you could then easily connect the rural and urban townships.
“As far as the Indian community is concerned, there needs to be more education assistance from the government to help in the development of schools. There should be more youth development programmes to help urbanise the rural children. “I also hope to see an increase in employment opportunities for the community, particularly in the civil service.
“A new structured subsidy system is needed so that subsidies only reach those who really need them.”
MIC Senator Datuk Daljit Singh
“I would like to see that more money is allocated in the budget for education, more scholarships and loans made available to all needy children strictly on merit basis.
“I would like to see funding for petty traders and SMEs increased and more opportunities for the agriculture sector.”
Gerakan deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Youn
“I would like to see more affordable housing for low- and middle-income groups especially wage earners. Market prices of properties have gone up tremendously and beyond the reach of an average Malaysian.
“There should be more efficient and affordable public transport, which will discourage the use of private cars.
“Restructure the subsidies on petrol as the current system benefits the rich more than the poor. The subsidy must focus on the middle- and low-income groups. Big car owners do not need subsidies. Savings from subsidies can be used for health care and education.”
Gerakan Youth deputy chief Oh Tong Keong
“Budget 2013 should help the poor to increase their family income, the minimum taxable income should be raised to RM4,000, and more low-cost flats should be built to show that the government cares for the poor.”
United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok
“I would like Budget 2013 to include more funding, particularly the rural areas to address imbalance, more funding for mission and independent schools and more assistance for the disadvantaged.”
Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sr Dr James Gemut Masing
“I would like to see more affordable housing for first-time buyers, more funds to make rural Sarawak accessible by road, more funds allowing educational research into new technologies and better agricultural practices, more public funding for oil palm plantations involving native customary land and more funds to link Kapit to the rest of Sarawak.”
MCA central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker
“I would like to see more affordable housing for wage earners and young professionals, a higher tax relief for individuals, tax exemption for contributions to NGOs dependent on foreign funds and a bigger budget for upgrading our infrastructure and public services.”
- The Malaysian Insider
