Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has been rapped for only attempting to get public opinion for his participatory budget for 2017.

DAP's Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim said a participatory budget is more than just "asking for opinions on the Internet".

"While participatory budget is a good idea, I am afraid this is but a publicity stunt by Najib," Sim said in a statement today.

He explained that he is involved in participatory budgeting in Penang and proceeded to give some tips to Najib on the issue.

First of all, Sim (photo) said, the people need to have access to information so that they can provide informed decisions and opinions.

There must also be opportunities for policy appraisals, for that is how a budgetary decision will affect a particular goal, such as gender equality and social distribution, he said.

Those who are most vulnerable must be consulted on their needs, he said, which means going beyond the Internet and onto the ground to hold focused group discussions.

'Allow government spending to be monitored'

Not only that, the people must also be allowed to continuously monitor government spending to ensure that the budget is being adhered to, he said, adding that they could also intervene when the implementation does not achieve budgetary goals.

Lastly, Sim said, proper reporting and accounting must be done so that government spending can be evaluated at the end of the budget year.

"Asking for opinions is not enough, the question is whether the opinions really matter when the government drafts its policy and implements it.

"Asking for public opinion means nothing if even MPs are not given enough time and resources to debate on the federal budget," Sim said.

He pointed out that in the coming parliamentary budget session, MPs are only given six days to debate on the budget.

For the 35 ministries, including the ministerial portfolios within the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), he said, the MPs are given nine days to scrutinise each ministerial budget.

"Budget documents were not given beforehand and MPs, especially opposition MPs, have to read through volumes of budget documents to participate in the debate that will last only a few days," he said.

During last year's budget debate, Sim said he had called for the establishment of an independent fiscal council to be the Parliamentary Budget Office.

This council would be tasked with informing Parliament by providing independent and non-partisan analysis of the budget cycle, fiscal policy and financial implications of proposals, he said.

Such a council would also help the Opposition to formulate and properly cost it's alternative budget.

"If these are not done even inside Parliament, surely all talks and plans about participatory budgeting will fail," he said.

Yesterday, Najib invited the public to contribute ideas for the preparation of the Budget 2017.

He said people could do so via a special website that will be provided until Sept 19.