KUALA LUMPUR – The country’s biggest budget unveiled this afternoon will, to a large extent, help Barisan Nasional (BN) capture voter support ahead of an impending general election, according to political observers.
Granted, the coalition’s win and return to federal power could hinge on when the election is called, they said.
This comes on the back of widespread speculation over the date of the dissolution of Parliament to pave the way for the national polls, amid Umno exerting political pressure on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
National Professor Council senior fellow Jeniri Amir said that if Umno hopes to benefit from the supposed feel-good factor of the budget, it is only wise for Ismail Sabri, the party’s vice-president, to push for an immediate general election.
He added that while the 2023 budget cannot be credited exclusively to Umno – the current government also consists of multiple other political outfits – that the prime minister comes from the party means it is likely to profit the most.
“The budget is certainly good for Umno. If Parliament is dissolved before its passing, at least they can say they will execute these initiatives if they are voted back in. Indirectly, it is a way to fish for votes.
“Whether or not the budget alone will be enough to ensure its victory is hard to tell, because there is also the consideration of political perception. But it will certainly help.
“So, if they can dissolve Parliament immediately and harp on the budget over the next few weeks, it will go a long way. If they delay, the feel-good factor today will certainly wane,” he told The Vibes.
Today, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Rahman tabled the country’s biggest fiscal plan in history, allocating a staggering RM372.3 billion for next year.
This is a whopping RM40.2 billion bump from last year’s allocation of RM332.1 billion, translating to a 12.1% increase.
No doubt budget meant to win votes
Jeniri said the budget is visibly geared towards winning the hearts of voters, with an eye fixed on the upcoming election, going by the inclusiveness of the supply bill.
He added that apart from the usual focus on the B40 households – Umno’s key vote bank – the budget also this time pays greater attention to various segments of the community that might not have previously been given priority.
“You can see that even Sabah and Sarawak are getting more this time. So, I think it is safe to conclude this budget is meant to win the election, and obviously they (Umno) have to be realistic about tackling issues faced by most Malaysians.”
Universiti Utara Malaysia’s Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani similarly believes the budget is able to influence voter sentiment, particularly if the election is held in the near future, but said it will not be the sole determining factor in the polls.
Other key factors that could come into play, he said, are the competing parties’ manifestos and existing voter political affiliations.
“The feel-good factor of the budget will definitely attract votes, but whether it helps win the election is not set in stone. It won’t be the sole factor,” he said in an interview.
Azizuddin said the other parties in the federal government, namely those from Perikatan Nasional, will likely claim some credit from the budget, seeing their ministers make up a large portion of the current cabinet.
Separately, he warned government parties against banking solely on the budget to win the election, despite its appeal, noting how the previous BN administration under Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s stewardship was toppled in 2018 despite a similarly people-friendly budget.
“Of course, the 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Bhd) factor might have come into play then, but it should serve as a sign that a budget alone doesn’t win you an election.” – The Vibes, October 7, 2022
