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Abolishing PTPTN interest tops PM's Budget 2016 suggestions site
Published:  Sep 3, 2015 5:34 PM
Updated: 3:36 PM

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's microsite on Budget 2016 has been up three days, and 672 suggestions have already been made.

The most popular suggestion at the moment is on abolishing interest for National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) loans, which has 294 votes in favour as of 5pm.

This is followed by 222 votes for a proposal to give PTPTN borrowers discounts for full or timely payments.

Meanwhile in the cost of living category, 67 votes have been cast for a suggestion to abolish goods and services tax on processed food such as instant noodles and canned sardines.

A proposal to reduce the six percent GST to three percent and increase 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) handouts has 44 votes in favour, and 16 against.

However not everyone wants more BR1M, with two heated proposals to abolish the handout collectively gaining 54 votes in favour and 35 votes against.

There are 15 categories for the public to post their suggestions, such as housing and urban living, healthcare, tourism and culture, security, taxation, and economic development.

Anyone can make a suggestion and vote. All you need to do is sign up or login using your Facebook or Twitter account at najibrazak.com/bajet2016 then complete a survey which includes your IC number, and household income.

Budget 2016 will be tabled next month on Oct 23.

The budget proposals are being collected amid a period of economic instability in Malaysia.

The ringgit has plummeted against the US dollar, hovering around the RM4.20 mark against the greenback, the worst the local currency has performed since the 1997 economic crisis.

There's also 1MDB's massive debts, which Najib has pledged to solve by January next year.

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