Haim Hilman Abdullah Raises Concerns Over Budget Cuts Impacting Education and Rural Development
ALOR SETAR, May 3 — Recent budget reductions affecting key sectors such as education and rural development have raised concerns among some quarters, who warn of potential implications for long-term national development and public welfare.
Pas central committee member Haim Hilman Abdullah said the RM466 million reduction in funding for the Ministry of Education Malaysia (KPM) could pose challenges to ongoing efforts to improve educational infrastructure, particularly in schools that require urgent upgrades.
He noted that areas potentially affected include school maintenance and upgrading, efforts to address teacher shortages, and the continuity of student support programmes.
According to him, assistance schemes such as supplementary food programmes, scholarships and other learning support initiatives may need to be reviewed if funding becomes more constrained.
“In a time when education systems are increasingly moving towards digitalisation, it is important to ensure that technological infrastructure in schools continues to receive adequate attention,” he said.
He also highlighted a RM571 million reduction involving the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), which he said could impact rural development projects.
He suggested that delays or reductions in such projects may affect economic opportunities and living standards in rural communities.
At the same time, he emphasised the need for any fiscal adjustments to be carefully considered to ensure that public priorities remain safeguarded, particularly amid rising cost-of-living pressures.
Haim Hilman also noted that cumulative reductions across multiple sectors could create broader ripple effects, especially for lower-income groups who rely more heavily on government support.
He stressed that, in the long term, sustained investment in education and rural development is crucial to ensuring equitable opportunities across society.
He further touched on proposed reductions in healthcare and higher education spending, describing these sectors as essential pillars of human capital development.
In this regard, he suggested that fiscal management should strike a balance between budgetary constraints and the well-being of citizens.
He also pointed to rising subsidy expenditure as an area that warrants closer examination within the broader context of national financial management.
Overall, he underscored the importance of prudent allocation of resources to support inclusive and sustainable development.
-wilayah.com.my
