BUDGET WISHES TO ANWAR'S 'UN-REFORM' GOVT - ONCE UPON A TIME, HARAPAN WOULD LEAD SUCH A WISHLIST - BUT NOW, ODDS ARE THEY WILL DO THE 'OPPOSITE' TO KEEP THEMSELVES IN POWER
KUALA LUMPUR (Politics Now!) - My country's Budget 2023 wishes. October is that month most watched by most Malaysians.
How different will our PMX's unity government plan for Budget 2023 is currently, in all probability, the topic of the month streaming into street corners and corporate corridors.
My simple, humble, naive wishes are the following dozen.
One, stop allocating huge sums for religious purposes. Leave funding to the charitable hearts of followers as this should be the way forward to enhance, strengthen and internalise spiritualuty among the respective faithful followers of religions as they take ownership of their beliefs.
Two, allocate meanigful sums for the rewarding of whistle blowers successfully joining in the battle against endemic corruption inbthe country. It should drive fear down the spines of every corrupt citizen.
Three, pronounce meaningful, scaled tax relief for businesses that return to society what rightfully belongs to humanity. Businesses that plough back profits to build human capital inventories, innovate products and services, keep prices down by not profiteering, etc. all deserve incentives to go the distance in rebuilding a sagging economy.
Four, introduce effective, creative and bold taxation on private health care together with reform driven tax policies for pharmaceuticals. Healthcare cannot anymore be deemed as a sunrise industry.
Five, it is time to slash import/sales tax on motor vehicles. With public transport failing to see relief after decades of seeming improvements, let us get honest for once - private vehicular mobility is no more a privilege or luxury but a basic, indispensable necessity. Such a remedy will also pave the way for ensuring there will be more road worthy, less costly to maintain vehicles on our roadways.
Six, the time is almost expiring to reform our housung policies and the industry. Housing cannot anymore be driven as an economic pursuit but more as a social development agenda. It calls for a taxation formula that will make one house per couple and for singles beyond age 35 the trend. Buying dwelling properties to rent out at ever escalating rates is not success but a national brutality. And do also provide special incentives to builders who venture with a clear, nationalist and humanistic conscience.
Seven, allocate bigger budgets - if not the higgest, to education. It is time that our benchmarking of a progressive nation is not potholed with dilapidated schools and that which do not support the holistic development of the next generational power house. Revise teachers' salaries and perks to nurture and harness examplary educators along with severe punishment for repeat failures.
Eight, it is time to introduce a wiser taxation on export of local crops and husbandry. The years ahead of us is wrought with unprecedented food chain disruptions and scarcities. Stop being foolishly denying this geopolitical scenario that is already fast unfolding. We need a sustainable framework for the long haul and it begins with this tax consideration. As in the biblical story, the "seven lean years" have unfolded.
Nine, introduce tax reliefs and subsidies for local, small scale, garden farming. Draw the money from the revised taxes for imported luxury goods and exotic farm and processed produces. This will encourage the flourishing of local and fresh produce which are as good if not better than foreign vegetables, fruits and meats - both preserved and processed as well. The taxation revisions must decisively address the chasing after humongous profits raked in by importers and exporters at the expense of citizens' well being, health and affordability.
Ten, introduce a lifestyle taxation remedy. It is time for the nation to rebuild humility, simplicity, compassion and practicality as our societal values that once upon a time were the hallmarks of our people. And anyway, is this not in line with the much politicised, touted and publicised as well as eagerly promoted Malaysia Madani framework?
Eleven, introduce a taxation formula that will make it less viable to keep importing cheap labour that can easily be exploited and abused for profits, rent seeking and corruption feeding. As our population keeps growing, we will be having more labor supply to meet growing demands. But it needs a structual policy and mindset reform and it begins with a taxation system that punishes the greedy, sinful exploits.
Twelve - last but not least, make recycling a meanigful success story by abandoning profiteering campaign mantras and instead introduce sizeable and felt tax prescriptions for the masses and those in the industry. A society that acts responsibly with its trash saves and builds a stronger nation.
Hope these honest, simple hopes make sense. Surely there are enough experts in the country with clear conscience to translate, fine tune and perfect these dozen hopes into viable, couragous and determined tax budgets 2023. Letter from J. D. Lovrenciear - Politics Now!
-Politics Now!
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