The 2027 Budget, totalling RM510 billion, must be assessed based on the tangible benefits it delivers to the people, particularly in raising incomes, creating quality jobs and easing the cost of living.
PAS Vice President and Kemaman member of parliament Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said the government’s substantial spending commitments must be accompanied by disciplined financial management and efficient expenditure to ensure the country’s finances remained sustainable in the long term.
He said RM376.8 billion of the RM459.8 billion in Federal expenditure was allocated for operating expenditure, while RM83 billion was set aside for development.
The RM61 billion in debt servicing charges also underscored the need to strengthen fiscal discipline to safeguard the country’s financial capacity in the future, he said.
Samsuri said the remaining RM50.2 billion, which involved investments by government-linked entities and public-private partnerships, must also be closely monitored to ensure that the economic benefits and related financial commitments were assessed transparently.
He welcomed the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) assistance programmes, as well as measures to increase workers’ incomes.
However, he said long-term priorities should include strengthening the people’s purchasing power, providing jobs with commensurate pay and bolstering local enterprises.
He said the 2027 Budget would be scrutinised responsibly in Parliament, with support given to sound measures and proposals put forward to improve areas requiring further attention.
“Ultimately, the success of a budget is not measured by the size of the figures announced, but by the tangible benefits felt by the people,” he said in a media statement yesterday. NST
