The Budget 2014 will be tabled in Parliament next week on Oct 25. It must be seen by the public to be fair, equitable, reasonable and inclusive, with special preference given to the poor and lower income groups.
The following are the essential points that must included for the government to win broad support for its new policies and programmes.
1. The Budget has to be prepared as a One Year Plan in the Overall Perspective Plan for our Vision 2020 Plan. It has to be seen as part of the Strategic Plan to fulfil our long term national Socio Economic Goals.
2. The Budget should not be viewed or presented as a "Red Packet" (angpow), as handouts in tax exemptions and expenditure gifts, regardless of the dire implications on the economy.
3. The Fitch rating report's criticism of our economic weaknesses are real and cannot be placed under the carpet of callousness or played down in the Budget! The large Budget deficits, rising public debt and balance of payments declines, must be addressed properly, to avoid a downgrading in our international credit ratings, which can be destabilizing to the economy.
4. Inflation should be curtailed by introducing incentive taxes for increasing Competition, Production and Productivity. More liberal policies of licensing, quotas and restrictions should be made available to increase Supplies of Goods and Services.
The Budget has to provide more allocations to combat corruption and crime that can raise prices of goods and services for all.
5.The GST should not be postponed again! The essential goods and services that are consumed by the poor should be exempted from the GST. Corporate taxes should remain the same as any reduction will negate the new revenues from the GST!
6. The huge wastage of public funds mentioned in the outstanding A-G's Report, have to be drastically reduced and the Budget has to highlight the measures that will be taken to fight wastage.
7. The Budget should state categorically, what steps and how many Officers are being penalised for wasting our Taxes, otherwise the Public will rightly ask, why should we pay our Taxes.
8. Bonuses to civil servants have to be carefully given according to productivity and not given across the board, to even malingers. Bonuses must be earned and not given freely.
9. The Budget must show the Outcome/ Performance, from all this massive annual expenditure! In other words, higher allocations of expenditure should not be the criteria for successful budgeting, but the quality of the products and services provided to the Rakyat.
The Question the Public keeps asking is: “Are we getting our money's worth? Is the quality of education, health, safety and security and transport and food production and environment etc, improving or regressing?”
10. The Budget must be fair to all Malaysians and not be seen as favouring any vested or racial group.
There should not be race based economic or “race-conomics”, which most Malaysians and investors would resent.
The Bumi Empowerment Policy should be transformed into a Innovation and Entrepreneurial Policy/ Programme (IEPP) for all deserving Malaysians, with some preference given to genuinely really needy Bumis!
I believe that the Budget 2014 has to include the above Basic Essentials, for it to be regarded generally, as a good Budget for 2014.
Statement issued by:
Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam
ASLI Centre for Public Policy Studies (CPPS)
Nadi Arena
Fri Oct 18 2013
![What Budget 2014 should include, according to ASLI What Budget 2014 should include, according to ASLI](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-08/71377824343_295x200.jpg)
![Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723294016_FaisalHalim.jpg)
Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti
Faisal Halim layak dilabel pejuang sejati apabila mampu bangkit walaupun berdepan trauma selepas menjadi mangsa simbahan asid pada Mei lalu.
![Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723705839_TBHilang.jpg)
Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah
Polis memohon bantuan orang ramai mengesan seorang remaja perempuan berusia 15 tahun yang dilaporkan hilang di Beranang, Selangor.
![Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000 Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705134_TBAhLong.jpg)
Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000
Seorang orang suruhan ah long mengaku bersalah atas pertuduhan menyimbah cat merah di rumah keluarga peminjam, Januari lalu.
![Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705177_TBMyREF.jpg)
Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf
Lebih daripada 30 asnaf bersama ahli keluarga mereka telah diraikan di Majlis Graduasi MyREF Hijrahpreneur Skills Program (MyREF HSP) di Auditorium High Impact Research, Universiti Malaya.
![Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723704577_RusdiMohdIsa.jpg)
Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol
Polis telah mengenal pasti seorang pemain bola sepak yang ditahan kerana membawa kerambit ke padang bola, sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol di sebuah pusat hiburan di ibu negara.
![Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723703465_TBperkeso.jpg)
Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan
Bernama dan Perkeso menandatangani MoU bagi memperluas perlindungan sosial kepada pengamal media sambilan (stringers) melalui Skim Keselamatan Sosial Pekerjaan Sendiri (SKSPS).
![RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723701143_TBastro.jpg)
RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif
RADIO 360 merentasi 11 stesen radio Astro yang boleh diakses di aplikasi SYOK termasuk Era, Sinar, Gegar, Hitz, Mix, My dan Raaga.
AWANI Ringkas: Pemain bola bawa kerambit juga suspek baling bom petrol
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
![Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723702959_TBMahkamahSesyen.jpg)
Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China
Sepasang suami isteri dan empat individu didakwa menculik seorang lelaki warga China untuk mendapatkan wang tebusan berbentuk mata wang kripto.
![Bursa gantung jualan singkat SP Setia Bursa gantung jualan singkat SP Setia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61722341186_BursaMalaysia.jpg)
Bursa gantung jualan singkat SP Setia
Bursa Malaysia menggantung jualan singkat SP Setia Bhd bagi baki tempoh hari ini selepas penyusutan harga yang ketara.
![KPDNHEP tahan wanita jual produk tiruan dengan harga tinggi KPDNHEP tahan wanita jual produk tiruan dengan harga tinggi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-07/41593653051_produktiruan.jpg)
KPDNHEP tahan wanita jual produk tiruan dengan harga tinggi
Pemilik premis yang berusia 24 tahun itu ditahan dalam serbuan di sebuah premis sekitar Wakaf Tengah kira-kira jam 10.30 pagi Rabu.
![Polis siasat insiden 11 gereja dibakar Polis siasat insiden 11 gereja dibakar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-01/81516231941_ChileAttack.jpg)
Polis siasat insiden 11 gereja dibakar
Selain itu beberapa helikopter yang diletakkan berhampiran gereja turut musnah dibakar dipercayai akibat perbuatan khianat.
![Ekonomi Malaysia dijangka lebih baik pada separuh kedua 2016 - ASLI Ekonomi Malaysia dijangka lebih baik pada separuh kedua 2016 - ASLI](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-03/71457512699_PelanconganBUDGET.jpg)
Ekonomi Malaysia dijangka lebih baik pada separuh kedua 2016 - ASLI
Penurunan kadar dasar semalaman (OPR) oleh Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) akan meningkatkan keyakinan perniagaan dan menggalakkan pertumbuhan pinjaman lebih pantas.
![1MDB: Saya akan beri sepenuh kerjasama kepada PAC - Lodin 1MDB: Saya akan beri sepenuh kerjasama kepada PAC - Lodin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-05/81431436212_295x200.jpg)
1MDB: Saya akan beri sepenuh kerjasama kepada PAC - Lodin
Syarikat pelaburan negara, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) akan memberi sepenuh kerjasama kepada prosiding siasatan Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Wang Negara (PAC) yang akan bermula 19 Mei ini.
![PAC perlu libat wakil antarabangsa dalam siasatan 1MDB - Ramon PAC perlu libat wakil antarabangsa dalam siasatan 1MDB - Ramon](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-01/41359025124_295x200.jpg)
PAC perlu libat wakil antarabangsa dalam siasatan 1MDB - Ramon
Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Wang Negara (PAC) dinasihat untuk menggunakan pakar antarabangsa sebagai rujukan dalam prosiding siasatan syarikat 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) pada 19 Mei ini.
![ASEAN perlu beri fokus terhadap '4I' - Michael Yeoh ASEAN perlu beri fokus terhadap '4I' - Michael Yeoh](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-11/51415774874_295x200.jpg)
ASEAN perlu beri fokus terhadap '4I' - Michael Yeoh
ASEAN perlu memberi fokus terhadap '4I' - infrastruktur, inovasi, pembangunan inklusif dan pelaburan - sebagai pemacu utama kemakmurannya pada masa akan datang, kata Tan Sri Michael Yeoh.
![Henti beri lesen pembalakan untuk 25 tahun - Ibrahim Ali Henti beri lesen pembalakan untuk 25 tahun - Ibrahim Ali](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-07/81373959358_295x200.jpg)
Henti beri lesen pembalakan untuk 25 tahun - Ibrahim Ali
Presiden Perkasa Datuk Ibrahim Ali hari ini menyarankan agar pemberian lesen pembalakan dihentikan sekurang-kurangnya 25 tahun bagi mengelak banjir besar berulang.
![Projek pembangunan luar bandar dilaksana secara holistik - Najib Projek pembangunan luar bandar dilaksana secara holistik - Najib](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-05/61368199480_295x200.jpg)
Projek pembangunan luar bandar dilaksana secara holistik - Najib
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berkata semua projek pembangunan luar bandar akan dilaksanakan secara holistik untuk mengurangkan kadar kemiskinan dan merapatkan jurang pembangunan bandar dan luar bandar.
![Kerajaan kekal komited terhadap falsafah 1Malaysia - Najib Kerajaan kekal komited terhadap falsafah 1Malaysia - Najib](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-09/71378028979_295x200.jpg)
Kerajaan kekal komited terhadap falsafah 1Malaysia - Najib
Najib beri jaminan kepada rakyat bahawa kerajaan kekal komited terhadap falsafah 1Malaysia dan akan memastikan setiap warganegara ada tempat di bumi Malaysia.