BY AFIZ REDZUAN
SHAH ALAM, OCT 23: The Federation of Malaysian Consumer Association (FOMCA) hopes that the 2018 Budget that will be tabled this Friday will contain more initiatives for the middle-income (M40) and low-income (B40) groups, to reduce their burden on living cost.
Its Deputy President, Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman said, as expected, the Federal Government’s budget is more of an ‘election budget’ to attract votes, however he stressed that a systematic revenue distribution is necessary.
“We certainly hope the government would take certain approaches expecially in reducing cost of living.
“This time, we hope the M40 is also the focus as they are in the same boat with B40.
“Government can reduce income tax and exempt tax for certain groups,” he said to SelangorKini.
He said, the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) is always the most anticipated announcement at every budget presentation however he hopes that the gradual distribution is given in the form of capital so that citizens can increase household income.
“BR1M must be distributed systematically. If previously RM1,200 is given in three stages, FOMCA’s view is that it is better to give it in the form of cash and food-coupon that is redeemable at certain stores or they can keep the cash in trust funds.
“If previously there was a suggestion to use BR1M to buy Proton Iriz car for citizens to operate Uber, perhaps next year the money can be given through a food-truck purchase packages so they can operate businesses and increase their income,” he said.
2018 Budget: Don’t marginalise the lower and middle-class
