Published: Friday September 6, 2013 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Friday September 6, 2013 MYT 8:49:04 AM
BY ELWEEN LOKE
PHOTOS BY RONNIE CHIN AND ELWEEN LOKE
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| Train them better: Chu believes that the government should do something to improve human resource management in various sectors. |
YOUNG working adults who just ventured into their respective careers, are hoping that Budget 2014 would help alleviate their financial burden.
They also gave their opinions and suggestions to the Government’s policies and benefits offered to the people in recent times.
Research assistant Ryanne Phan, 23, hoped the Budget would close the widening income gap between the middle-class and the poor.
“While I do not mind the petrol price hike, I believe the Government should take measures to ensure the price of basic necessities such as sugar, rice and flour remained low.
“Any rise in the prices of such necessities, in addition to inflation, might lead to low-income earners not being able to afford them.
“Besides that, I hope the goods and services tax (GST) will not be implemented as it would only add more burden on the people during such trying times,” she said.
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| More busses and trains please: With the cost of fuel rising, young working adults want better public transportation. |
Phan was also of the opinion that the Government should discontinue the 1Malaysia Book Vouchers (BB1M) and use the funds to improve rural education instead.
“From my observations, many students misuse the vouchers by exchanging them for cash, buying unnecessary books, spending on junk food and CDs in bookstores and more.
“As such, the Government might as well transfer the help to the rural education sector where it will really make a difference.
“However, the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) for the needy and low-income families should continue but the application process made easier for the illiterate and the elderly,” she added.
Tracy Toon, who is in her 30s, hoped the Government would provide subsidy or rebate on Internet services, as wifi services at home and mobile phone data plan could cost up to RM200 a month.
“This means I have to pay about RM2,400 a month and cumulatively, this is quite a large sum.
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| Ideas on healthcare: Some of those interviewed believed that subsidies should be provided for private healthcare to address flaws in the public healthcare system. |
She said Internet services should be made affordable for all since the Government encouraged its use.
Toon, an entertainment services provider, said there would be an allocation to set up centres with free wifi service for the benefit of the public.
“This would enable everyone, especially students, to have better access to educational websites to enrich their knowledge,” she said.
A food caterer, who only wished to be known as Hafizi, said a fund should be allocated to install traffic countdown timers at traffic lights where Automated Enforcement System cameras were installed.
He said countdown timers would enable drivers to estimate the right time to stop their vehicle.
“Some drivers, who have no intention of running a red light, might not be able to stop before the light turned yellow.
“If they are caught by the camera, they would be issued an AES summon of RM300.
“It is simply unfair and especially taxing for young adults,” he said.
He also said sudden braking would cause tyres and brake pads to wear off.
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| No warning: Fund should be allocated to install traffic countdown timers at traffic lights where AES cameras were installed. |
Hafizi, 26, said there were no countdown timers at the AES camera-monitored traffic lights on Jalan Pasir Puteh, Ipoh, and Sungai Siput town area.
“However, timers are installed at other traffic lights which does not have the AES cameras.
“What is the rationale of such arrangement?” he questioned.
Mike Chu Chin Hong, 24, said the Government should provide subsidy for private healthcare to address flaws in the public healthcare system.
He said there should also be an increase in the number of medical practitioners in the healthcare sector.
“Many middle-income families are dependent on public hospitals and clinics.
“Due to lack of manpower in the healthcare sector, patients who are desperate for treatment, have to wait for a long time before they are attended to.
“In the end, they might miss the golden opportunity to recover from their illness,” he said.
Chu, who runs Yowa Car Accessories, also opined that the Government should do something to improve human resources management in various sectors.
“The Government should conduct more training courses to improve the quality of the manpower,” he said.
Concurring with Chu, Dr Beh Pith Soh, 26, said the Government should look more into strengthening the vocational schools and better facilitate the engagement between vocational schools and their respective industries.
“This is to create more training and internship positions to better allow the development of skilled labour force, according to the need of our rapidly urbanising country,” he said.
While the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) was a good initiative, Dr Beh opined that it should not be a stand-alone measure.
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
“I hope the Government could see how great the impact is on the two different approaches,” he said.
K. Thanesawaran, 28, said the Government must improve the public transportation system to encourage more people to commute in town buses.
He said buses were an important transportation service for people who could not afford to own a car.
“This is especially true for the elderly who rely on buses to get from one place to another,” he said, adding that more routes should be established.
Thanesawaran, a car workshop technician, also opined that the Government should provide assistance to bus companies to upgrade the vehicles.
“People would be more willing to travel in buses if they are in good condition,” he said.
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