Manfaat belanjawan belum tentu jadi undi, kata penganalisis

Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim introduced the 2027 budget in the previous week, possibly becoming the final budget if a general election (PRU) is held early. (Illustration by Facebook Anwar Ibrahim) Affordable financial aid and other benefits in the 2027 budget could boost public sentiment towards Pakatan Harapan (PH), but it is not certain it will translate into votes during PRU16, according to a political analyst.

Awang Azman Pawi, from Universiti Malaya (UM), said public sentiment could change based on living costs, economic performance, leadership integrity, and political developments. "In politics, appreciation for government fundamentals does not necessarily mean loyalty to the ruling party," he told FMT. Azman noted that the Barisan Nasional (BN) had implemented similar initiatives while in power, including cash assistance BR1M, goods from Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia, and the establishment of local transformation centers at the municipal level.

However, he stated, these measures did not guarantee public support and, in fact, they lost power during PRU 2018. Though the 2027 budget is a government initiative, the Ministry of Finance is headed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the leader of PH. With the next election expected around February 2028, the 2027 budget may be Anwar's last budget if he calls an early election.

Some call the 2027 budget a pre-election budget, allocating RM460 billion for expenses -- an increase of nearly 10% compared to 2026 -- in addition to various measures aimed at alleviating living costs and increasing income. Tawfik Yaakub, also from UM, said these steps could increase support, especially among direct beneficiaries, but their impact may be temporary if daily living costs continue to rise.

"I expect those in the B40 group, civil servants, public officers, young voters, and families with school-age children will give the most positive feedback. This is because the benefits announced address their daily financial needs. However, the aid is not automatically translated into political support," he said. Tawfik believes that the government's approach will be perceived as evidence of its care for the people, while critical voters may view it as a pre-election strategy.

"Ultimately, public perception will depend on the thoroughness of implementation and how much the public actually feels the benefits," he added. Tawfik also noted that the initiative could attract a portion of voters with higher incomes, but this, too, depends on economic growth, including prices, wages, and job opportunities.