DAP announces 'alternative' budget for all M'sians

It is time for a budget for all Malaysians, said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng when announcing the party’s alternative national budget 2010.

At a press conference in Petaling Jaya today, Lim claimed that previous budgets have been tabled with only a select few in mind, ignoring many segments of society.

He pointed out that the youth, women and senior citizens, who were overlooked in previous government budgets, as some of the beneficiaries of the DAP shadow budget.

"This is about empowering women, empowering youths... and appreciating senior citizens without whose efforts we would not be enjoying the life we have today," he said.

Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, stressed that it is the responsibility of the government to eradicate hardcore poverty.

Using his success in Penang as a benchmark, Lim said the shadow budget aims to do this by allocating allowances to top up the income of the poor so that they will surpass the hardcore poverty line.

Currently, he added, the poverty line in the peninsula is at RM430, Sabah (RM540) and Sarawak (RM520).

He also outlined DAP's proposed 'fair wage' initiative which he said is aimed at bridging the gap between the higher and lower income groups.

Lim explained that some of the measures will be waiving EPF contributions for lower income groups as well as the reduction in employer’s EPF contribution with the government paying the waived or reduced portion.

Annual income supplements of between RM1,600 to RM2,400 will also be given to the identified income groups.

With these measures, Lim said: "Not only will the government pay (the EPF) for you but also make you more employable (because of the lower employer EPF contribution), especially those in the 35-55 age range."

Eradicate graft and get RM20 bil

Asked why DAP came out with its own budget as opposed to a collective Pakatan Rakyat budget, Lim answered that they will send in their shadow budget to Pakatan for consideration.

DAP is due to brief Pakatan MPs about the shadow budget on Oct 19, after which Pakatan will come out with its own version.

"It is such a huge budget, that it is useful to have many viewpoints on the matter," said Lim, adding that other Pakatan components may come up with their own suggestions.

Queried on how they plan to fund the budget, Lim explained that the sources of income for the government were fairly stable from personal and corporate income taxes, added with oil and gas revenues, there should be enough money to go around.

Stressing on the importance of implementing the principles of competency, accountability and transparency, he said: "By eradicating corruption alone we may easily get RM20 billion."

Responding to a question on whether DAP will submit its shadow budget to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak who called for suggestions from all Malaysians for the upcoming 2010 budget, Lim said: "We may do that, but it will be through Pakatan channels... But we want to present it to the rakyat first."

Back from as far as 2002 when Pakatan was still called Barisan Alternatif, it has consistently produced a shadow budget to demonstrate what it thinks is the proper use of public funds.

Also present at the press conference were DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang, national publicity secretary Tony Pua and senior DAP leaders.

More information about the policies and contents of the DAP budget can be obtained here .