What Budget 2023 Has in Store For Commuters

Malaysian Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz

In conjunction with Budget 2023 to be laid tomorrow, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz will table the national finance blueprint for 2023 edition at 4 p.m. on October 7.

President of the Malaysian Public Transport Users Association (4PAM), Ajit Johl has stated his hopes for the upcoming Budget 2023 should incorporate more initiatives to encourage people on using public transportation or at least change their perception on prioritising public transportation instead of making it the last option.

More to that, the Malaysian government must imply walkways and paths leading to public transportation stations are well-lit, secure, and have improved 24-hour surveillance.

Ajit added that 4PAM wishes the government would continue to encourage the local ride-sharing industry with additional incentives or fuel subsidy as it had become a viable last-mile solution on top of creating a fair alternative towards public transportation users.

The government should consider lowering the import duty on ride-sharing vehicles, allowing drivers to purchase better and reliable vehicles.

Bernama reported that 4PAM urged the government to set up a Public Transport Review Committee to review tariff hikes regulations and ensure that public transport is not monopolised and is sustainable for the operators.

“4PAM also would like to propose the creation of a Public Transport Tribunal to ensure users have a transparent recourse that is effective, efficient and user-friendly,” Ajit told Bernama. 

The President of Gabungan Teksi Malaysia, Kamaruddin Hussain has petitioned to allocate special assistance of RM500 being distributed towards its members across the country.

This is to help our fellow members who consist of the rental car, taxi and e-hailing drivers coming from low-income backgrounds who are affected by MCO including the current economic issue such as soaring price of goods.

Universiti Teknologi MARA’s (UiTM) Faculty of Communication and Media Studies senior lecturer Shahnon Mohamed Salleh told theStar that there were several key observations for Budget 2023, including that the economic forecast and global outlook for 2023 would generally be gloomy.

He expected the government to also address rising subsidies, the value of the ringgit and the cost of living.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun estimates that it will take a maximum of 33 days to debate Budget 2023.

Stay tuned with Caricarz to follow more updates.