By Wong Chen
AS MPs, we have a national duty to consider and deliberate on laws, public policies and government budget.
In the matter of an unfolding crisis like Covid-19, MPs have a duty to work out a comprehensive national policy plan and approve the budget. As an opposition MP, I am willing to share my public policy views with the government. However, due to all the backdoor government mess and with Parliament inactive until May, the opportunity to meaningfully contribute is closed for the moment.
It is also a fact that the new government is struggling to organise themselves. They may be good at organising golf events but are obviously very poor in communications. While the content of the announcement yesterday was overall good, the fact that they had not prepared FAQs in advance is just bad. There is still a lot of confusion and questions that need to be answered.
Going forward, the government needs to quickly address the economic issues of shutting down most businesses for the next two weeks. Where are the economic models and data to explain and justify yesterday’s announcement? What are the economic implications for the workers, the poor and self-employed people? In other words, what will happen to pasar malam traders, or their workers? Will factory workers get paid for two weeks of no work? What will happen to those doing part-time work? How will the two to four million illegal foreign workers cope?
How much savings do they have? We know that a large majority of Malaysians do not have savings beyond two months of their pay. How do we assist them if this continues for weeks and months to come? How do we secure their jobs and prevent unscrupulous employers from sacking them? On the flip side, how long can a company sustain paying workers for no work done? In short, a comprehensive economic road map is required. We have to ask and challenge if the current stimulus plan is sufficient.
I support the RM600 a month payout for workers affected by unpaid leave, but what they need more is job security to prevent unemployment. At this point, I would immediately recommend a special additional Bantuan Sara Hidup payout, not just moving the RM200 payout forward from May. Social safety net payments (around RM300 a month) have to be increased if not doubled for old folks, people with disabilities and single parents. Most of those affected from this category are either part-time workers or are self-employed, and if they can’t work, their miserable RM300-a-month aid needs to be supplemented. Officers and resources need to be deployed to ensure the poorest and most vulnerable, including migrant workers, are given support and help. An immediate discussion with representatives of employers should also commence.
Lastly, in times like this, the government must utilise its financial reserves to help everyone. The government has roughly two weeks to make better preparations. This is not the time to hang out with tycoons in the golf course. In policy making and budget, people should matter more than profits.
Wong Chen is MP for Subang
