First-home boost shows it’s people’s budget — Susan

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KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (Shareda) president Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen believed the Budget 2012 tabled by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as the real budget for people.

She told The Borneo Post the government’s proposal to stretch the limit of house prices to RM400,000 under the ‘My First Home Scheme’ is one of the good news for house buyers in Malaysia, especially the young couple.

“There are many people who earn less than RM3,000 per month could now own houses. This move has shown that the government is encouraging house ownership in our country.

“The budget really help Malaysians to have their own house since they can also get a 100 per cent loan,” she said.

Meanwhile, assistant minister of tourism, culture and environment Datuk Bolkiah Ismail said the budget tabled by Najib is farsighted taking into account the plight of hardcore people, youths, government servants, teacher development programs and well as spurring the small and medium enterprises (SME) entrepreneurs via its revitalization and financing funds.

“These are definitely creating more conducive economic activities and stimulating growth especially in domestic markets and investment.

“A comprehensive budget taking into account all sectors and social justice for Malaysian,” he said.

A teacher, Siti Radzia Ramlee said the abolishment of fees in school is a very good move by the government but parents should understand that it does not mean they are not paying a single cent for their children’s development in school.

Parent-Teacher association (PTA) must have the understanding that every school need their own fund to do various activities that are not included in the government’s budget.

She said teachers still have to do their own text or examination trial every month to ensure the consistent performance of the students.

“In my school, parents are still paying RM33.50 yearly so that school will have the fund to buy paper, ink and other necessary things. Even though parents are paying that amount for additional fees, teachers still have to buy their own paper, ink and printer especially during monthly test and preparing working papers for class activities,” said Radzia.

Radzia added discussion among parents and teachers or representatives from the education ministry should be done before implementing it to give a better understanding to the public.

The proposal to extend the compulsary retirement age from 58 years to 60 to optimise the civil servants’ contribution is a smart move took by the prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Occupational therapist of Hospital Mesra Bukit Padang, Rusminah Osnain said the announcement is an appreciation to the civil servant to have many benefit after the age of 60.

“According to a research made by United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), there will be an increase up to 12 per cent or more than 3.4 million of senior citizen in the world by 2050.

“People who reached the age of 60 will be consider as senior citizen and they will be entitled many benefits such as no payment for public transportation and hospitals. It means civil servants will be taken care by the government until the age of 60 and after that they will enjoy many benefits,” she added.

However, she also happy with the announcement as it is still an optional for them whether to continue working until the age of 60 or retire early depending to their health condition.

Apart from that, Rusminah also said the special budget offering civil servant with a tuition fee assistance for part-time studies was another good news for her.

She is currently doing a part-time study in one of universities in Malaysia said the assistance is a win-win situation because both parties, civil servant and government will have positive outcome from it.

The more educated the civil servants, the more they perform well in the government department and it will contribute to the performance.