A review that left me wanting

If there was one thing I learned reading the antics of Calvin and Hobbes, it was that a good compromise leaves nobody happy. And that is exactly what we saw in the Budget 2015 review announced by our prime minister.

For myself, I'm glad mega projects are still under way, especially in the form of mass transportation projects such as the LRT, the MRT Line 2 and the high-speed rail to Singapore.

I'm even happier with the announcement of the Padang Besar rail upgrade and even the Port Klang last mile upgrade because, if there is anything we have learned, logistics matter a great deal.

However, what left me further questioning was the lack of spending in disaster management plan expenditures as well as more investments in green energy. The northern states of the peninsula are prime for wind energy.

Meanwhile, the east coast states of the peninsula could use more hubs such as the urban and rural transformation centres built up as a disaster management centre for everyone, complete with airlift facilities if need be for helicopter drop offs and pick-ups.

While I do agree with the National Service programme to be scrapped and saving us RM400 million this year (if not annually), there was also the question arising from the RM3.2 billion cut from statutory bodies, government-linked companies (GLCs) and government trust funds.

The PM added that "particularly those with a steady revenue stream and high reserves". I've no idea which ones he meant and I do hope someone asks.

The review, while showing austerity in government spending, especially procurement and events, did in fact highlight a lot of money being spent for redevelopment efforts while maintaining the status quo.

But we need to spend more. Funnily enough, some detractors have said that additional spending would be rife with corruption. Well, why not then spend on fighting corruption?

The budget, when initially announced, had nothing mentioning the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission or anything else when it came to an allocation to the police force.

So when people harp on corruption, I am uncertain if they had noticed this absence in the first place before speaking of "cutting spending to fight corruption".

And while the civil service is now not hiring, will their employees be seeing a raise of at least 6% come April 2015 when the goods and services tax (GST) is implemented?

See, many who complained about public expenditure forget that while the government was building mega projects, they were focused on public transport.

Similarly, many may have equally forgotten that both the police and civil service got their salaries cut in order to contribute money to relief efforts for the floods voluntarily.

To now suggest we should abandon their welfare because of the budget being reviewed and money is needed to be saved is cold and uncaring, and by far too daft to comprehend.

With the Hays survey highlighting the Malaysian private sector may see an increase of salaries by 6% by the next review, the civil service should also be keeping up with the same trend.

Was this calculated either in the budget or budget review, I am unsure. Hopefully it was. If not, then something is horribly wrong.

Similarly, while a lot of measures are being undertaken to ensure small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can export overseas, the fact remains that an international trade deal such as that of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) would render all these efforts futile in encouraging local budding industries.

Of course, we could have confirmed that fact had the interim cost-benefit analysis been published as promised early last year.

And if the prime minister insists on businesses taking a greater role in Asean, then he should heed his own words and focus on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Yes, we are dependent on exports of electrical and electronic equipment, textiles and lumber products.

However, if we truly want to boost our services industry unhindered, the TPPA and its non-trade agendas will not assist our SMEs.

The trade deal will bury our budding businesses and may even wipe out our Class E and F contractors to whom the prime minister just gave priority.

As such, perhaps the prime minister will casually get on the phone and invite President Barack Obama for another round of golf and put this matter to rest for us all. – January 21, 2015.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.