Crowdsourcing Malaysia’s 2014 Budget · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Malaysian government has put up a special website where citizens can share their ideas on how public funds should be used next year. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak encouraged Malaysians to give suggestions in drafting the 2014 budget which will be tackled by the government on October:
As a government elected by the people, I believe everyone deserves a say on how we as a nation will progress next year.
…we will be providing a platform for the rakyat to come together and share their views on the 2014 Budget. The discussions will focus on several topics including cost of living, housing and urban living, healthcare, public safety and other issues close to the hearts of the people. We will continue collecting your input until the 8th of September, after which they will be sent to the Finance Ministry for consideration.
Aside from making comments, netizens can also vote in favor or against the ideas given by others. For example, the proposal of hazratie to build a casino was rejected by 22 people:
Build a casino with Chinese architecture to attract millions of Chinese tourists to Sabah, this will contribute towards enriching Sabah government from casino tax and tourist expenditures to beat competition from Macau and Singapore, this casino should be complemented with adult entertainment clubs such as the Playboy club and gentlemen club.
There are various categories that people can choose in making suggestions. Under the education category, Nur Syafika Sukuri suggested that student allowances should be provided by the government:
As we know, the living costs are expensive for those full time students who are unemployed. The government should give some allowances to decrease expenses that we spend. By doing this, it will encourage student to do their best without worried about the money.
Meanwhile, Mohd Fadzlan Bin Failul Rahman wanted government ministers to be blood donors:
I am proposing that blood donation is performed by the Ministers of the government including our YAB Datuk Seri Najib Razak. People are accustomed to the phrase; “Follow the Leader”. Thus, it will be a good move in encouraging the people to be a blood donor. When is the last time we see our Ministers supporting blood donation by being a donor themselves? Plus, those who donate regularly will get the advantages of free medical treatment
OTL urged the government to end property speculation:
House price maybe a very very very big burden to those middle and lower income earners. Sometimes its even mission impossible for a layman to own a landed property. A house is one a the most important criteria to build up a happy and healthy family. I would suggest government try whatever ways to stop property speculation, this is for the benefits of rakyat, bankers, government and property developers.
Ayesha Adam has a simple demand: a safe and affordable kindergarten for children:
Is it truly too much to ask for a government kindergarten that is safe, and well maintained? All we working Malaysian parents need is a safe place for our children to learn and to be taken care of while we work. Not everyone can spare thousands to get a maid, or a playschool that cost almost 1k a month. With government assistance, and fees as low as 100 -200 per child a month, i don't think this is a big ask.
Sunny has a proposal on how to increase rice yield in the country:
It is very sad to see Malaysia every year need to import rice from other country while we have plenty of land. It is suggested the government to give subsidies / tax exempted / cheap rental for vacant land around the nation for agriculture purpose. In short run, this might be a burden for the government but in the long run, we will be able to sustain our food supply and perhaps can export as well.
Using the hashtag #bajet2014, here are some ideas given by Twitter users:
sir @najibrazak jobseeker allowance! tax incentives for private sector tt practiced diversity in hiring policies. #bajet2014 #budget2014
— Ainul Aizat (@ainulaizat) August 30, 2013
Gradual dismantling of energy subsidies to be channeled to infrastructure development aimed to the masses/needy such as cheap mrt #Bajet2014
— Mohd Hazwan A Wahab (@mhawhazwan) August 29, 2013
#Bajet2014 Govt abolish d 10% service charge imposed by restaurants. Some restaurants r charging 10% eventho they dont qualify!
— Zafri Aiman (@zafri_aiman) August 28, 2013
Every municipal shud have a hub for public transport. From here ppl frm the municipal can go anywhere with bus or LRT. #bajet2014
— Edward Diong JY (@ED_Diong) August 27, 2013