KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said the
government always ensures that every Malaysian enjoys the benefits derived from
the growing economy.
government always ensures that every Malaysian enjoys the benefits derived from
the growing economy.
The Prime Minister said among others, it had helped in
registering a stunning reduction in hardcore poverty in the country from 3.8%
in 2009 to just 0.4% last year.
registering a stunning reduction in hardcore poverty in the country from 3.8%
in 2009 to just 0.4% last year.
In Sabah alone, we had managed to reduce the rate from 19.7%
in 2009 to just 2.9% last year, he said.
in 2009 to just 2.9% last year, he said.
In his blog entry in the run-up to the tabling of the 2018
Budget, Najib shared the tribulations faced by his administration in tackling
the Malaysian economic challenges since taking over the helm of national
administration in 2009.
Budget, Najib shared the tribulations faced by his administration in tackling
the Malaysian economic challenges since taking over the helm of national
administration in 2009.
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These included the 20% drop in exports, the economy shrank
6.2%, the low wages that failed to compete with inflation, high poverty rate,
disparity in income, frequent increases in the toll rates, poor public
transportation and the rampant crony capitalism.
6.2%, the low wages that failed to compete with inflation, high poverty rate,
disparity in income, frequent increases in the toll rates, poor public
transportation and the rampant crony capitalism.
Najib said the people’s income per capita had also increased
from RM27,819 in 2010 to RM40,713 in 2017, with the monthly median income
having increased from RM4,585 in 2014 to RM5,288 in 2016 for a nation with a
population of approximately 30 million.
from RM27,819 in 2010 to RM40,713 in 2017, with the monthly median income
having increased from RM4,585 in 2014 to RM5,288 in 2016 for a nation with a
population of approximately 30 million.
The lower-income group was also not excluded from enjoying
the spillover in the increased national economy.
the spillover in the increased national economy.
He said there was also an improvement in the B40 household
income – which had grown to RM3,000 in 2016 from RM2,629 in 2014.
income – which had grown to RM3,000 in 2016 from RM2,629 in 2014.
“As a result, our GINI ratio – which measures income
equality – dropped from 0.441 in 2009 to 0.399 last year, the lowest in
Malaysia’s history. Malaysia’s income equality has never been better,” he
said.
equality – dropped from 0.441 in 2009 to 0.399 last year, the lowest in
Malaysia’s history. Malaysia’s income equality has never been better,” he
said.
At the same time, the cost of living issues hit those on low
incomes the hardest, and this was why the government distributed RM5.36 billion
in 1Malaysia People’s Aid, or BR1M, to 7.28 million households in 2016, and the
government also introduced the minimum wage, Najib said.
incomes the hardest, and this was why the government distributed RM5.36 billion
in 1Malaysia People’s Aid, or BR1M, to 7.28 million households in 2016, and the
government also introduced the minimum wage, Najib said.
Najib also hit out at a former leader who described BR1M as
an abuse of government funds.
an abuse of government funds.
“It is frankly cruel-hearted for anyone in the
opposition to talk of taking away a programme that is designed to help ease the
burden of millions.
opposition to talk of taking away a programme that is designed to help ease the
burden of millions.
“Everything we have done has been for the good of the
people. And that includes taking many tough but necessary decisions that were
not always popular,” he added.
people. And that includes taking many tough but necessary decisions that were
not always popular,” he added.
Najib also shared the development approach taken by his
administration which gave priority to more equitable, more inclusive
development and improved all sectors of the population and areas in the
country.
administration which gave priority to more equitable, more inclusive
development and improved all sectors of the population and areas in the
country.
The focus was not merely on the Klang Valley or the west
coast alone, he said, but even more than that which included areas that had
been neglected for too long.
coast alone, he said, but even more than that which included areas that had
been neglected for too long.
Taking the example of Kelantan, it had been sidelined and
development funds for the state blocked and its water infrastructure had not
been improved for several decades by a former leader because it was ruled by
the opposition party, said Najib.
development funds for the state blocked and its water infrastructure had not
been improved for several decades by a former leader because it was ruled by
the opposition party, said Najib.
“To me. this is unfair, because clean water is
important in our life and it is the right of every Malaysian. As such, we have
helped Kelantan with the restructuring of the water supply agreement made last
year which will cost more than RM1 billion,”he said.
important in our life and it is the right of every Malaysian. As such, we have
helped Kelantan with the restructuring of the water supply agreement made last
year which will cost more than RM1 billion,”he said.
He said that the need for land communications such as roads,
highways and the railway in the state had also been considered by the federal
government in order to provide facilities and comfort to the people.
highways and the railway in the state had also been considered by the federal
government in order to provide facilities and comfort to the people.
Najib said development including the water needs for the
people in the states ruled by the opposition such as Selangor and Penang had
also been given priority by his administration.
people in the states ruled by the opposition such as Selangor and Penang had
also been given priority by his administration.
It was also the same in terms of development needs in Sabah
and Sarawak with considerable allocation being given for this purpose by the
federal government, he said.
and Sarawak with considerable allocation being given for this purpose by the
federal government, he said.
“I endeavour to be fair to all the states – including
those under opposition rule,”he added.
those under opposition rule,”he added.
-BERNAMA
