HISTORY, will be the Judge & Jury.

POLITICAL ECONOMY - Column: " from THE fringes "

Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

Tuesday, 27th  October 2015 

(Post-Budget 2016 'Show'?)

Budget 2016 was tabled last Friday 2016, a week after the former Mufti of FT  passed away.
Having been involved in either covering previous government budgets for a TV station or taking part in the pre-budget discussions leading to the tabling of the budget itself, this year I am not involved in the event or the post-budget show.

Let history be the Judge and Jury for Budget 2016.  

( MORE to FOLLOW )

I'd expected Budget 2016 to be a budget for the Malay heartlands (read 20th October 2015 "from THE fringes" HERE ) and also geared towards Sabah and Sarawak (especially Sarawak due to the impending state elections) and I was proved right.

It so happens that last Friday was hari Asyura i.e. the 10th of Muharram, a day of many significant events. The local mosque I go to organised a break of fast or iftar to commemorate the day. Over the breaking of fast when asked what they thought of Budget 2016, 2 matters were highlighted i.e. the tax increase for those earning RM50,000 a month and the RM250 handed to pensioners.

( This week's column is based on a series of informal discussions held in the F.T. of K.L.(Sri Hartamas & TTDI), Selangor (P.Jaya, Sri Damansara & Bandar Sunway) and Negeri Sembilan.  )