To all political parties : Where are your economic plans?

KUALA LUMPUR Nov 11 - The 15th general election is 8 days away and all political parties are now campaigning at full swing.

However, amid all the backstabbing, mudslinging and hoi polloi during political roadshows, an obvious but pertinent agenda is noticably absent. Where are all the economic plans?

The Merdeka Centre, in its findings among 1,209 respondents across 222 parliamentary constituencies, put economic concerns including inflation as occupying most of the mind of 74 percent of interviewees.

The think-tank cited political instability, corruption, enhancing economic growth, and welfare protection as among the economic concerns.

The Ilham Centre found a similar pattern with 1,622 respondents – 44 percent wanted an economic recovery, 35 percent preferred the authorities to reduce poverty and the cost of living, and 8 percent to clean up corruption.

Uplifting the economy is priority

Needless to say, the number one concern occupying everyone's mind right now is the economy.

Top of the agenda is the rising cost of living, minimum wages, soaring inflation and job security, among other things.

Other national issues are important too but respectfully, all political parties must emphasise on economic concerns right now and must sit on the drawing board.

BN's PADU and PH toll free pledge not enough

Amid the "ayo" and "ayaq" water lingo in Tambun, Perak, hardly anything economic has been mentioned.

Barisan Nasional's manifesto PADU hardly scratched the surface.

Pakatan Harapan's pledge to remove toll payments at the North South Expressway   meanwhile remains a pledge.

Where are the economic aspirations? There is still time.

Election winner must bring back investors' trust

Whoever wins, Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional must go back to the drawing board on how to make Malaysia an attractive investment destination.

To do that, the Malaysian leaders should not jump parties after the election and elect three prime ministers in a spate of five years like they did last time.

This spooked investors especially foreign direct investments which went to neighbouring countries.

Thankfully, the Anti-Hopping Bill was passed in Parliament in September which will put a stop to party hoppers.

Bring back confidence in the ringgit

Everybody knows that the ringgit has dived considerably to RM4.70-RM4.80 to the US dollar over the past year or so.

While it is true that the ringgit is affected by external factors such as in the US and China, but in this case, the ringgit has been weakening due to the lack of investors' confidence in the ringgit.

We shouldn't blame the investors as they are jittery by the endless political wranglings in our country.

Sadly, the ringgit is not on the agenda that much and perhaps was only mentioned by PKR's Rafizi Ramli.

Continue to bolster the domestic economic

Economists always say that even if the global economy is bad, Malaysians in the country themselves must thrive.

So even if the International Monetary Fund casts a gloomy outlook for the global  economy next year with a possible recession, Malaysia on the other hand must counter the slowdown by spending more in the country.

Thus if BN wins the elections, it must continue with it's narrative of dishing out numerous cash aids.

If PH wins, it could also introduce it's very own BR1M.

Help the SMEs

Politicians can formulate plans to help and estimated 1 million small and medium scale enterprises in the country.

They were the most affected by the pandemic and the sector account 40 percent of the country's gross domestic product.

Win the SMEs and politicians may earn their votes.

Another round of EPF withdrawal not going to cut it

This carrot by a certain politician may look good on paper but it is not a good idea.

Pension savings are already depleted and conversely unemployment has reduced from 1 million before and almost all Malaysians are vaccinated.

Thus not all populist economic political campaigns are feasible.

A CNN survey said that while US President Joe Biden is talking of “saving democracy” and restoring “the soul of our nation,” voters are more concerned about their finances.

In short, Biden and his Democrats are out of touch with the common folk’s daily struggles, and are now facing stiff punishment from voters, who may next turn to the Republicans.

Issues like climate change only received 6 percent of interest, gun policy at 7 percent and abortion at 15 percent.

Malaysian politicians are veering in the same direction - badmouthing the opponent when at the same time the attacker him or herself has no economic gameplan.

Stop aiming for the stars. Just check on how the constituents are doing economically and do something about it. - DagangNews.com