The ‘election budget’: Guess who walked out
A new definition of an election budget?
This is certainly a change to see the government side taking pains to describe Budget 2018 as an “election budget”. This was the same phrase used by opposition leaders as a form of insult, to show that it’s all about winning an election and not ensuring the country’s fiscal and economic well-being.
Expected goodies
It’s just months before the general election, and naturally, many had expected the budget proposals to be packed with goodies to shake undecided Malaysians into returning Barisan Nasional to power. But suddenly, “election budget” is meant to be a compliment, and Barisan Nasional leaders wasted no time using the phrase with pride.
The hallmarks of an election budget
An election budget is called such because it announces goodies, maybe even plucks out money from out of nowhere. An election budget shapes public opinion in a couple of hours, and essentially blasts this from the opening line: “Here’s why you should vote for us.”
Not just a speech, a strategy
Yes, an election budget is a strategy to win. But was Prime Minister Najib Razak’s speech, which went on for more than two hours, an announcement of an election budget? If the goal of an election budget is to win an election, then the speech was anything but.
Walkout or stay, what’s the point?
The speech started with a prayer, it was egged on with jokes, and it was spiced throughout with quotes from philosophers and men of God. It ended with a good few minutes of punching the air and mocking the other side. Unlike last year, the opposition MPs did not walk out in the middle of the budget speech. Sanity and good sense already did that for them, leaving Najib’s budget a cheap stunt that reinforces the Malaysian parliament’s reputation as a mad house.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Prime Minister Najib Razak’s speech was an attempt to win over the public by announcing goodies in the budget, but it lacked the substance and focus expected of a budget announcement. Instead, it turned into an election speech with jokes, quotes, and a call to mock the opposition.
FAQs
Q: What is an election budget?
A: An election budget is a budget announcement that prioritizes winning an election over ensuring the country’s fiscal and economic well-being. It typically involves announcing goodies and making grand promises.
Q: Was Prime Minister Najib Razak’s speech an election budget?
A: Yes, his speech was an election speech, but it was presented as a budget announcement. It lacked the focus and substance expected of a budget announcement.
Q: Why did the opposition MPs not walk out of the budget speech?
A: Sanity and good sense already did that for them, leaving the prime minister’s budget a cheap stunt that reinforces the Malaysian parliament’s reputation as a mad house.