BY RAZAK AHMAD
KUALA LUMPUR: The cost of living, housing and urban issues, and healthcare are the people’s top concerns as Budget 2017 looms, an online survey conducted by the Prime Minister’s web portal has revealed.
The two-week survey (https://bajet2017.najibrazak.com/survey), which culminates tomorrow, asked people to rank their top three concerns out of a list of 15 topics.
The other topics were culture and tourism, taxation, business and finance, employment, environment and agriculture, public facilities, social welfare, youth and sports, public safety and transparency, education, economic development, rural development and transport and infrastructure.
Cost of living topped the list for 26% of the respondents, followed by housing and urban issues (12%) and healthcare services (7%).
Education ranked fourth (6%), followed by public security and transparency, jobs and economic development (5% each).
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in his response to the feedback received, pledged to study the feedback as he prepares to table Budget 2017 in Parliament on Oct 21.
“I have received a compilation of suggestions which have been submitted to my portal.
“God willing, they will be examined,” the Prime Minister and Finance Minister wrote on his Facebook page on Tuesday.
Prior to the online survey, the public was also asked to provide suggestions on the budget from Sept 5 to 19.
Najib extended the deadline to Sept 21 to study more views.
A total of 8,352 suggestions were received, with the top five categories being jobs, education, public transportation and infrastructure, taxation, business and finances, and housing and urban issues.
All online visitors to the portal were also allowed to vote on the suggestions by clicking “like” or “dislike”.
As of yesterday, the most “liked” suggestion listed in the cost of living category came from Mohd Raif Masaud, who suggested either a total abolition of the Goods and Services Tax or a reduction of the tax from 6% to 3%.
He also suggested a cut in the price of fuel, public transportation and other essential goods and services. Raif’s entry received 96 likes.
Another popular entry was from Sow Wu Leang, who suggested that the BR1M aid be changed to another form to ensure no abuse.
“For example, the aid can be channelled in the form of education, healthcare or other aid,” she said. Her suggestion received 87 likes.
Rashidah Zulkiflee suggested new rules to prevent those who could already afford to buy houses from renting units at Projek Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) affordable housing schemes.
“For your information, about 30% of current tenants renting units at PPR schemes are those who hold high positions, drive luxury cars and own houses.
“Please give more opportunities to those earning less than RM2,000 a month to rent at PPR schemes,” she wrote.
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