Manfaat belanjawan belum tentu jadi undi, kata penganalisis

Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim announced the 2027 Budget last week, which may be the final one if the general election is held early. (Illustration by Facebook Anwar Ibrahim)

Financial assistance and other benefits in the 2027 Budget could boost public sentiment towards Pakatan Harapan (PH), but it is not certain whether this will translate into votes in the 2016 General Election, said an analyst. Awang Azman Pawi from Universiti Malaya (UM) said public sentiment can change depending on living costs, economic performance, leadership integrity, and political developments. "In politics, appreciation of government foundations does not necessarily mean loyalty to the ruling party," he told FMT.

Azman noted that the Barisan Nasional (BN) had implemented similar initiatives when in power, including cash aid BR1M, goods from Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia, and setting up neighborhood transformation centers. "However, it did not guarantee public support; instead, they lost in the 2018 election," he referred to PRU 2018 when the coalition lost power for the third time.

While the 2027 Budget is a government initiative, the Ministry of Finance is headed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the chairman of PH. Given that the next election is expected to be held in February 2028, the 2027 Budget may be Anwar's final one if he calls for an early vote. Some media suggest it as the election-predominant Budget, allocating RM460 billion — a nearly 10% increase compared to 2026 — along with various measures to alleviate living cost pressure and increase income.

Tawfik Yaakub, also from UM, said these steps could boost support, especially among direct beneficiaries, but their impact may be temporary if the cost of living continues to rise. "I expect those in the B40 low-income group, civil servants, government workers, young voters, and families with school-age children will give the most positive feedback.

"This is because the announced benefits address their daily financial needs. However, aid is not automatically translated into political support," he said. Tawfik believes public backing will depend on the thoroughness of implementation and how much the people feel the benefits.

He said the initiative could also attract the attention of some higher-income voters, but that too is contingent on the overall economic situation, including prices, wages, and job opportunities.