Perks (and not…. ) of the Budget 2007

September 1 2006 was Budget 2007 Day. Despite some of my friends observation that Budget 2007 was strategically revealed earlier than usual as a counter tactic for Pak Lah before UMNO`s G.A, I listened to the presentation all the same. Here `s some of the important positive allocations:

1. Childcare centers in all government ministries and departments. A positive step in acknowledging the importance of good early childhood development plus respecting working moms `s dual role at home and in the office. Corporate sectors are encouraged to do the same thing. Do you think they would make use of the money exempted from the corporate tax towards social good? Corporate=profit. Go figure.

2. Abolishment of ALL school examination fees. I think this is an important step towards realizing a free education for all. It will strike just the right chord with Article 28 of the Convention on The Rights of The Child if the government would also take heed of the other additional hidden costs in education which are imposed in schools such as fees for computer, sports, joining associations and etc.

3. Teaching Chinese and Tamil in national schools. I just commented on this matter here. I hope the move is seen by all sectors as a sincere strategy to instill unity since young and to encourage all races to receive education under one roof. Let’s hope it is not seen and undertake as a political propaganda to champion some plastic cause for “muhibbah”.

4. Tax relief increase for purchase of books. Books are indeed expensive especially good ones so the tax relief is great to inculcate interest in the society to take up reading as an “affordable” habit. Anyhow, I was hoping for taxes on imported books to be reduced too so I could make that trip to Kinokuniya and Borders more often. Well, we can’t win all, can we?

However, these are the things that I hope could be better….What an unsatisfied scoundrel I am, huh?

1. Reduction in corporate tax. I understand this to be seen as a strategy to boost competitiveness and all that’s great and beautiful in the corporate world but I am very concern on what kind of responses will the corporate sectors hold especially in dispensing their social responsibility. I always viewed taxes as not only resources for public revenue but also a step to control and maintain a certain standard of social accountability among giant corporate. Take for example environmental tax imposed in the Scandinavian countries. Would such reduction rectify the current VSS trend in the corporate sector? Beats me.

2. Safety measures by installing more CCTVs in crime prone areas and deploying an additional 2,000 patrol cars for the police force. These are fine, really. But what about threat to public safety by the force itself? Bloody Sunday…does that ring a bell? If IPCM seemed offensive to the police force, what about some allocation for human rights and social awareness education for police personnel? Safety measures require both - the mechanics of technology and also “appropriate and humane” responses from the authorities especially where public is concern.

3. 91M for youths - in sports and training programs. Are all youths jocks? What about other areas concerning youths? Capacity building other than NS, physical space for youths to be engaged in creative process and community activities in urban, suburb and rural areas. If lack of control is the fear, let’s discuss the fear together but somehow, I think there is a reason for Mat Rempit, Mat Skateboard and Mat Graffiti to use unauthorized public sphere for their so-called unruly activities; because there is no space for ordinary young people to hang out and do things constructively except for overcrowded malls or old abandoned buildings. Not every youth would like to be or could be Nicol David, hence sports scholarship might not be the thing for them, but my interviews with young people revealed that they crave for physical space to expand their artistic skills. So, macamana?

So, that’s all folks. Maybe you guys terjumpa other parts about the Budget that you like or dislike, feel free to drop by and share your excitement and worries.