Budget 2016 Speech By DAP Secretary-General And MP For Bagan Lim Guan Eng In Parliament On 26.10.2015
GST the cause of the economic downturn and the RM42 Billion 1MDB as well as the RM2.6 billion donation scandal the cause of the depreciation in the Ringgit. By not abolishing GST, reduce petrol price, freeze toll hike and outline concrete measures to restore the value of the ringgit, the 2016 Budget will not overcome Malaysia’s economic crisis nor improve the living standards of the rakyat. The Federal government has admitted that the GST saved the government from bankruptcy and even of not having enough money to pay civil servants, caused by reduced revenue following low global commodity and petroleum prices.
GST helped the Federal government to collect an expected sum of RM39 billion next year, which would be a net extra amount of RM21 billion collected, after taking into account revenue lost following the abolition of sales and services tax to make way of GST. It is this extra RM21 billion collected from 30 million Malaysians, not from rich crony companies in petroleum or toll companies, that has saved the government.
The 2016 Budget is just a cosmetic packaging exercise to give back some benefits after having taken an extra RM21 billion from ordinary Malaysians. In actual fact the RM39 billion is taken directly from the rakyat as compared to the abolished RM18 billion from the sales and services tax, which was taken from businesses. In other words, 30 million Malaysians are directly impacted in paying RM39 billion because of GST as compared to the previous scenario before GST where only businesses pay RM18 billion.
GST has caused ordinary Malaysians to suffer, not enough money for daily necessities and expenditure and even price rises. The 2016 Budget claims to give back to ordinary Malaysians. However the net effect of giving back to ordinary Malaysians can be seen by the Federal government revenue estimates that cost only RM764 million. What type of goodies budget is this that take RM39 billion directly from the rakyat or RM21 billion net from the rakyat but gives back only RM764 million? Based on the net figure of RM21 billion extra GST revenue, this is just like BN taking back RM26 from the rakyat but giving back only RM 1!
How does the Federal government intend to lessen the burden of the rakyat when toll hikes are announced and petrol prices is increased despite the drop in international oil prices? Will the Budget 2016 help to restore the value of the ringgit? Will BN admit that the Budget 2016 is a failure if the ringgit value does not bounce back to RM3.70-3.80 to 1US$ from the present RM4.30?
RM804 Billion Federal Government Debt Or Each Malaysian Owing RM26,800.
How does the 2016 Budget address the increased federal government debt that has risen from RM266 billion at end 2007 to RM627.5 billion as at June 2015? If we include contingent liabilities of RM176 billion, the federal government debt obligation would be RM804 billion, which would mean that Federal government debt has risen by more than 3 times in 9 years!
This debt means that each Malaysian owes RM 26,800. Debt service charges have also risen to RM26.64 billion, RM856 per person.
Whatever goodies are given to the rakyat under the 2016 Budget, are these goodies sufficient to overcome the higher cost of living following the implementation of GST. Many have said that life was better without the GST. I am sure the rakyat will prefer not having these 2016 Budget goodies if they can also not have the GST.
That is the difference between BN and Pakatan Harapan’s Budget proposal to save the economy by abolishing GST, freezing toll hikes and abolishing toll when the construction cost has been fully paid like the North South Highway, reducing petrol prices and resolving the RM 42 billion 1MDB and RM 2.6 billion donation scandals to restore the value of the ringgit.
Malaysians are nostalgic for a pre-GST and strong ringgit economy.
I wish to express my regret on behalf of the Penang state government that there are no projects announced for Penang. Why is there no expansion of the Penang International Airport when it will be expected to reach capacity this year? Why is there no implementation of the public transport system for LRT as promised three times by the Prime Minister?
The Prime Minister had also promised during Hari Raya Haji this year to assist flood victims in Penang and I had written in requesting RM 805 million in assistance for flood mitigation but none was given. I would like to remind that Penang contributed RM 6.5 billion annually and it is only fair that Penang not be left out and marginalized.
Budget 2016 does not address the issue of how Malaysia is going to escape the middle-income trap and achieve fully developed status with GDP per capita of US$15,000 when we have only reached US$10,830 last year. From this year to 2020, Malaysia’s per capita GDP needs to increase by US$695 per year on average, which is unlikely at the present exchange rate of RM4.30 to 1US$.
The time has come for Malaysia to seek inclusive growth that is not only sustainable but also free from corruption that encompasses all segments of society. There should be a progressive economic policy with a wealth-creating agenda based on collaboration amongst “wealth-creators” involving not just business but also workers, public institutions, and civil-society organizations. A progressive economic policy that is investment-led, inclusive, and sustainable to create wealth through a public-private partnership that drives long-term growth and productivity.
In other words, an entrepreneurial state where the government serves as a catalytic role in providing public goods and services, basic communications infrastructure and spurring the development of key risky industries. There is a need to invest in risky areas especially in research and development, innovation as well as retraining and upskilling, which the private sector would not touch. But in other areas, especially where the private sector has a proven track record, the role of the government is to reinvent government and leave business to the private sector.
The best way to solve the problems of “bad capitalism” (monopolies and cronyism) is to unleash the virtues of “good capitalism” (competition and innovation). Just as it is employability that matters, not employment. However we can see that the Federal government is too focused on monopolies and cronyism that has resulted in a deficit budget for so many years. Looking at our unemployment rate of 3.2% and expected drop of to 2,9% next year, again quantity is just as important as quality.
Finally, why has RM800 million promised for vernacular schools in 2015 Budget still not released this year? Can the government explain why this is happening especially when the allocation for vernacular schools has been reduced to RM500 million this year. How can the reduction of funds be compatible with the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s assurances that vernacular schools will be retained following several Ministers’s call for single-stream education system and the closure of Chinese schools?
Merdeka and Malaysia was established by leaders who believed they were doing something exceptional for the country with rights and freedoms as set out in our Federal Constitution. Unfortunately whilst we should be expanding our future, our present leaders want us to live in the past. BN is characterized by resentments and grievances, by distress and dismay, by the belief that America is irredeemably corrupt and past the point of no return. Let Malaysia not be defined by our past but by the opportunities of the future.
LIM GUAN ENG
—–Mandarin Version —-
民主行动党秘书长兼峇眼区国会议员林冠英于2015年10月26日在国会发表声明：
消费税是经济低迷的最魁祸首，一马机构420亿令吉丑闻以及26亿令吉捐款丑闻则是令吉贬值的主因。
消费税是经济低迷的最魁祸首，一马机构420亿令吉丑闻以及26亿令吉捐款丑闻则是令吉贬值的主因。只要联邦政府不废除消费税、降低油价、冻结过路费及列出让马币价值回稳的具体措施，2016年财政预算案将不会解决马来西亚的经济危机，也无法提高人民的生活水平。联邦政在2016年财政预算案的报道中承认，消费税解救了由全球原产品及石油价格走势低迷所导致的联邦政府破产危机、当局原本甚至可能没有办法支付公务员薪水。
明年，政府预计明年可在消费税取得390亿令吉的收入，比起销售与服务税的180亿令吉，多了210亿令吉。这笔向3000万名马来西亚人口征收的210亿令吉解救了政府，而不是富有的朋党石油公司或大道公司。
2016年预算案里派的糖果，只是联邦政府在拿走了普通老百姓的210亿令吉后的粉饰配套。事实上，比起已经废除、向商家收取的销售及服务税所能征收的180亿令吉，政府实际上从人民中袋取走390亿令吉。换句话说，马来西亚人民在消费税实施后，直接支付了390亿令吉，比起之前商家只需要缴付180亿令吉。
消费税导致普通老百姓受苦，不够钱应付日常开销甚至百物上涨。2016年预算案口口声声说归还人民，但是，从联邦政府税收中回馈给人民的数额约7亿6400万令吉而已。从人民口袋拿走390亿令吉或净收210亿，但只是归还7亿6400万令吉，这算什么糖果预算案？若依据210亿令吉的消费税净收入，相等于国阵向人民拿了26令吉，却只归还1令吉给人民。
大道过路费上调、汽油价格上涨（尽管全球油价走势下调），联邦政府要怎样减轻人民负担？2016年财政预算案有没有办法上马币价格回升？如果马币价格没有从目前的一美元兑4.30令吉，回升至3.70-80的情况，国阵会不会承认2016年预算案是一个失败的预算案?
联邦政府债务高达8040亿令吉，或者说每个国民欠债2万6800令吉
2016年财政预算案如何应对联邦政府节节上升的债务？政府债务从2007年底的2660亿令吉，增加至2015年6月的6275亿令吉。如果把或有负债算进去，到了2016年，联邦政府的债务将高达8040亿令吉，这意味着联邦政府的债务在9年内上升了3倍！
这笔债务意味着每个马来西亚国民欠债2万6800令吉。债务清偿成本已经提高至266亿4000万令吉，即平均每人856令吉。
无论政府在2016年财政预算案中派什么糖果，这些糖果是否足够让人民应付消费税实施后百物上涨的困境。很多人说没有消费税之前日子比较好过。我相信，如果人民可以不要消费税，他们宁可没有2016年预算案的糖果。
这就是国阵及希望联盟预算案的差别，希望联盟预算案志在拯救经济，废除消费税、冻结过路费上调、降低油价、解决一马机构420亿令吉金融丑闻及26亿捐款丑闻，以让马币价格回升。
马来西亚人怀念消费税前及强而稳定的马币。
我要代表槟州政府针对槟城没有发展项目感到遗憾。为什么槟城国际机场没有扩建工程？它的承载量估计将在今年冲破极限。为什么当局没有实行首相三次答应的公共交通如轻快铁？
首相也在今年哈芝节答应协助槟州水灾灾黎，我也已经致函要求8亿500万令吉的水灾防治援助，但是没有下文。我要提醒联邦政府，槟城每年贡献65亿令吉的税收，唯有槟城不被忽视及边缘化才算公平。
2016年财政预算案并没有谈及马来西亚要如何逃离中等收入陷阱，达到1万5000美元的人均国内生产总值，去年我国人均国内生产总值只有1万830美元。今年到2020年，马来西亚的人均国内生产总值需要每年增加平均695美元，但是以目前一美元总4.30令吉的情况看来是不可能的。
是时候马来西亚探索包容性增长，而不只是可持续，还必须免于贪污、并涵盖社会各界。我们必须有一个进步的经济政策，让财富创造议程立基于“财富创造者”的合作，不只是生意人，也包括工人、公共机构及公民社会组织。一个进步的经济政策以投资为主导、包容性及可持续以创造财富，通过公私合作主导长期的增长及生产。
换句话说，做为一个企业型政策，政府扮演提供公共用品、服务、基本建设的催化剂角色，政府也刺激关键高风险工业的发展。那就是一个政府需要投资在高风险领域如：研究及发展、创新、培训及再培训方面引领投资，这些是私人领域不会碰的。在其它方面，特别是私人界已经做出一番成就的部分，政府的责任是革新政府，把生意留给私人界。
解决“劣质资本主义（垄断及朋党）” 的最好办法是发扬“优良资本主义（竞争及革新）”的长处。正如就业能力才重要，而不是雇用率。但是，我们可以看到，联邦政府太过注重垄断及朋党，导致财政预算赤字那么多年。看看我们的失业率3.2%，估计明年会降到2.9%，质量与数量一样重要。
最后，为什么在2015年财政预算案中答应拨给华小淡小的8亿令吉今年还没有发放？政府能不能解释为什么今年度的拨款已经减少至5亿令吉？在数位部长喊话说要单元流教育制度并关闭华校后，首相拿督斯里纳吉保证政府将保留华小淡小，但是拨款减少要如何说明上述保证是可靠的？
马来亚独立以及马来西亚的成立是我们的领袖相信，他们为一个拥有权利及自由的国家做出一番不平凡事业，正如联邦宪法所阐明的。不幸的是，当我们必须迈向未来的时候，我国当今领袖却要我们继续活在从前。国阵的特点已经变成忿恨及抱怨、苦恼及灰心、无可救药的腐败以及走上不归路。让马来西亚不再被我们的过去捆绑，而是取决于我们未来的机会。
林冠英