Put RM19 bil devex in Covid-19 fund, says MP backing Anwar’s call

KUALA LUMPUR – Subang MP Wong Chen has reiterated opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call to reallocate RM19 billion in federal development expenditure (devex) for next year to the Covid-19 fund.

Debating Budget 2021, Wong told the Dewan Rakyat that the government had planned to spend RM28 billion for the fund this year, but reduced the allocation for next year to RM17 billion.

“I suggest that the government increase the Covid-19 fund by 30% for 2021, from RM17 billion to RM36 billion.

“With the additional RM19 billion, we can buy enough vaccines, and have enough wage subsidies and financial assistance so that companies will no longer need to ask for loan moratoriums and citizens will not be so desperate to take out their EPF (Employees Provident Fund) savings.

“All moratorium and EPF issues can be resolved by adding RM19 billion (to the Covid-19 fund),” said the Pakatan Harapan lawmaker, who also questioned if RM17 billion is sufficient to battle the effects of the pandemic.

He added that with the extra RM19 billion for the fund, Malaysia will be able to conduct mass testing similar to what has been done in China, Hong Kong and Slovakia.

PKR president Anwar first made the call to reduce Putrajaya’s devex from RM71 billion to RM52 billion when he had the floor as the opposition’s main debater on Monday.

If RM19 billion is channelled into the Covid-19 Fund, he said, it can better serve the public, instead of only a few political cronies.

Wong said in previous Budgets, the government’s devex hovered around RM50 billion a year.

Both leaders questioned why the amount for next year is RM71 billion.

“Usually, development expenditure is given at around RM50 billion a year, and we know that development expenditure brings economic-multiplier benefits for the people,” said Wong.

“But if the development expenditure is used in a corrupt manner, without any open tenders, then this will profit political cronies.

“The nation is facing an extraordinary crisis. The average Malaysian and the majority of companies are struggling.

“Why is the government giving priority to development expenditure that will benefit cronies, and increasing it to RM71 billion?” – The Vibes, November 13, 2020