KUALA LUMPUR: Frontliners, non-governmental organisations and businesses have lauded lawmakers for showing bipartisan support in approving the 2021 Budget.
Dr Nakhieeran Nallasamy, from Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, lauded the additional allocation of RM50 million for Sabah as being "vital and timely" in order for the state to triumph over the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Our resources in Sabah still lags behind that in the Peninsula, especially because the healthcare facilities are not evenly distributed throughout the state.
"Our public hospitals have enough medical expertise but we are still short of certain critical equipment at the moment.
"So, this additional allocation will certainly boost our healthcare response and ensure that Sabahans are not left behind as we battle the pandemic," he said.
Likewise, architect and founder of Upcycled Shack Tressie Yap, 49, also welcomed the additional allocation to assist Sabah's Covid-19 response.
"Besides providing funds to the Health Ministry and beef up medical reinforcement, the money should also be used to educate the public in Sabah about the new norms.
"Many volunteers on the ground have told me that residents in most villages do not wear masks or practice physical distancing. Instead, they continue with their social activities as usual.
"Besides that, the funds should also be used to purchase food supply for the underprivileged people. Many of them are only surviving on public food aid donation," she said.
Meanwhile, co-founder of Elriana Legacy (M) Sdn Bhd, Dailami Daniel Mat Nor, 29, commended the additional initiatives rolled out by Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz during his winding-up speech on the 2021 Budget in Parliament today.
"The government has done well to help small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) by extending the special tax cut for landlords to reduce the rental for SME businesses for another six months until March 2021.
"Many businesses such as event management, wedding planners and even tuition centres have been badly hit due to the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Another commendable initiative is the expansion of the i-Sinar programme to all affected Employees Provident Fund (EPF) .
"This will definitely help workers who lost their jobs or had their wages reduced to stay afloat. It also proves that the government actually listens to the people's plea," he said.
Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/11/644652/2021-budget-passing-lauded-frontliners-ngos-businesses