Although many analysts agree that the RM60 billion stimulus package or mini budget tabled by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will help the country’s economy cope with the global recession, there are doubts on whether it will be effectively implemented and its benefits be felt by the people who need it most.

malaysia people rakyat Just like the first RM7 billion stimulus package, questions are being raised on the implementation process of such packages, which invariably involve huge sums of money. Will the ordinary people on the streets - struggling to make ends meet in a climate of skyrocketing prices - really benefit this time?

Below are some reactions to the deputy prime minister’s much-awaited billion ringgit stimulus package.

Prof Mohd Agus Yusoff, political analyst from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaya

If we want to criticise the second stimulus package, there is a lot to be said but what is most important is, will the four-point stimulus plan tabled by Najib be realised in the next two years as promised? We have yet to feel the benefits of the first RM7 billion stimulus package.

What had happened to this first plan? The government seems to be good at announcing packages but ordinary citizens have yet to benefit from their implementation. The second package amounts to nine percent of the national budget so the people should directly feel the impact of the package.

Najib spoke of creating employment opportunities with the second package but can we actually see the employment opportunities created in front of us? The main point is the people must be able to feel directly the implementation of the stimulus packages.

Ramon Navaratnam, president of Transparency International Malaysia

Transparency International welcomes the second stimulus package and I believe it is quite wide ranging. But what concerns me the most is the amount. RM60 billion is a massive amount of money. Maybe the government is overreacting. The amount should be more moderate. What if the economic recession ends soon? What will happen to all this money?

I think if the government is drawing up RM60 billion for this package, they must have a detailed programme list and make sure that the programmes are really viable. It looks as if the government is eager to give contracts away when the package should in fact benefit the people.

Dr Jacob George, Consumer Association of Subang and Shah Alam (Cassa) president

jacob george It is a comprehensive budget taking into cognisance what the man on the street is talking about as well as critics of the government. There is equitable distribution of allocations, checks and balances, prioritisation of projects, identification of delivery system and audits. In that sense it is well-rounded and comprehensive.

Now what we need to know is how all this is going to be implemented. Previously, I have appealed for independent auditors to monitor the implementation of projects. I hope the government appoints independent auditors to ensure that the objectives of this mini budget are met.

For Joe Public, the bigger subsidies will offset their living cost. But their lifestyle is unlikely to change within the next eight months to a year. Joe Public is worried. He is saving and not going to spend big despite the perks announced. They are still going to be extremely cautious.

We can’t tell them that it is a fantastic budget and just go ahead and spend. Whatever Najib announced will take time to be translated on the ground and the balance sheets.

Anthony Thanasayan, disabled activist and Petaling Jaya City Councillor

anthony thanasayan The mini budget is utterly disappointing and has left the disabled community with nothing to cheer about. Times are bad and obviously the disabled community, who are facing job losses and rising medical costs, would be the worst affected.

The act of tokenism must stop. The government must address the needs of the disabled community or else some of us will be ‘wiped out’ during this economic crisis.

Lim Teck Ghee, Centre for Policy Initiative (CPI) director and former World Bank economist

The economic crisis has the potential to be extremely long and damaging our economy. While government is on a cause to pump prime and to stimulate the economy, it must be prepared for an extremely long economic downturn, which means it has to be extra prudent with how money is spend and not just throwing money around.

While it is good that the government put together a very large package. Its effectiveness now boils down to the implementation. My suggestion is that the government set up a bi-partisan task force to monitor the implementation of the package, representing a cross-section of society including with representation from East Malaysia. Such a task force can come up with year-end report.

Details of the package - the firms involved, projects details, tender details - can also be posted on a public website, allowing the public to provide feedback and the feedback should be taken into account.

In view of the very large amount involved, this kind of transparency and accountability will help ensure there is no abuse or leakages. Only then can the average joe enjoy the fruits of the package.

KK Eswaran, Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MAICCI) president

The second stimulus package of RM60 billion will certainly be timely for workers, consumers, investors, small and medium businesses and unemployed graduates to cushion off the current global economic downturn.

Even though this is a mini-budget, I believe the sizeable budget quantum that is well spread to the affected group is most appropriate in this trying time.

Azman Mokhtar, Khazanah managing director

The RM60 billion package in its totality is sufficiently chunky to have an immediate and significant impact while the 80:20 (RM48 bil:RM12 bil) split between private sector/capacity building initiatives and social safety net measures is well-balanced and well-crafted.

For Khazanah and the companies in our stable, the stimulus package will intensify and accelerate the implementation of investment plans in high economic multiplier, strategic, service-oriented sectors including telecommunications, leisure and tourism, technology, life sciences, healthcare and agriculture.

The investments in these sectors in 2009 and 2010 by Khazanah and our major GLCs will total more than RM10 billion, with the potential to create an estimated 70,000 jobs by 2011.

Salient points in mini-budget