Taiwan Educational Trip or Malaysia Parliament Budget Debate?

THE ABOVE CHARTS TRACKS THE INCREASE IN THE GOVERNMENT OPERATING EXPENDITURE OVER THE PAST 12 YEARS (IN MILLIONS)

The BN Backbenchers were indeed all smiling heading to Taiwan. The Deputy PM approved the “educational trip” for them. They stressed that it was nothing wrong to go for such a trip as long as it was productive. The Parliament sitting was adjourned on Aug 29 after the tabling of the budget. It will resume with debate of the said budget on Oct 13. The Parliament was adjourned because of fasting month.

The budget for 2009 a record budget amounting to RM205.9 billion relative to RM176.9 billion which was budgeted for 2008 last year. While everyone was expecting an expansionary budget in the light of a global economic slowdown, the very substantial increase of 16.4% raises the question of the Government's efficiency and effectiveness. So there are more vital issues about budget required to be debated now. Rather than the trip to waste people’s money for the “education trip” to Taiwan, they can sit along with PR opposition MPs to argue on the people’s economic problems.

This rapid expansion of operational expenditure has deprived the country of sizable funds for development expenditure which has greater economic multiplier effects. It has also resulted in a larger than necessary deficit in our budget, which leaves no surplus for our future generation. If this trend were to continue, our economy will be certainly at the risk of collapse in the near future.

Several years back, meeting was held during the fasting month. Then, it was scheduled as “break for fasting month". Parliament used to meet on fasting month, now they are making it possible for an “educational trip” during this period but not possible for Parliament to meet to debate the budget. Which one is important? Taiwan trip or Budget Debate?