Friday, September 28, 2007

Budget 2008: The Neglected SMEs

Last week in my regular column in Oriental Daily, I wrote on the fact that in the latest Budget 2008 announced by the Datuk Seri Abdullah was extremely disappointing for it neglected the largest productive sectors of the economy, both the manufacturing sector as well as the small medium enterprises (SMEs).

In the entire 44-page budget, there was only 1 incentive for the SMEs, that is taxes for new start ups can be paid in a more flexible fashion within the first 2 years. The manufacturing sector, despite contributing to 30% of our economy, was not mentioned at all except when it was mentioned that it is only expected to grow 3.8% in 2008 from the estimated weak 3.1% in 2007.

Both the SMEs and the manufacturing sectors are facing huge challenges in terms of globalisation and competition. The fact that the Government made no additional incentives or policies to enhance the competitiveness of our local companies relative to our neighbours and competitors is just "shocking". Clearly, there are some misplaced priorities in the Government's economy policies despite the record-breaking RM176.9 billion budget expenditure.


被忽视的中小型与制造业
潘俭伟

首相每年宣布的财政预算案,对国家发展是个很重要的里程碑。媒体大篇幅专注报道预算案,不完全是因为其涵盖我国未来一年预算的开销及收入;更重要的是,预算案指导政府如何面对当前的经济挑战,并发挥本身的潜能。

随着世界经济越来越全球化,同时带给马来西亚更剧烈的竞争。若我们继续固步自封,并让自己成为井底之蛙,这终究会对经济造成无可弥补的破坏。

政府刚刚宣布的2008年预算案,其预算的1千769亿令吉开销再创历史新高。若跟10年前相比,这笔开销无疑增加了两倍。因此,国内企业界总是期待政府通过 庞大的开销,为它们带来一些有利及具有创意的新政策。

然而,这份厚达44页的预算案最让人失望之处,就是政府只提到让国内中小型企业新设立的公司延迟缴付所得税。更失望的是,预算案只是两次轻轻触及国内的制造业。而且,预算案还蛮不在乎地估计制造业今明年将分别以3.1%与3.8%成长。

根据2000年调查显示,中小型企业占国内企业超过99%,其输出占国家总生产率的29%。中小型企业也提供超过560万个就业机会,并为国内生产总值带来31%的贡献。这个领域对国家生产如此重要,却在预算案似乎不值得一提,真是让人难以置信。

新加坡近几年来为支持及鼓励中小型及制造业成长,尤其是加强它们面对全球
化挑战的竞争力,如今推出许多高效率的政策。除了把公司税减低至18%,政府
还在30万令吉的水平设定新门槛,让中小型企业享有部分税务豁免,即首30万令吉新币可征税收入只须缴纳9%的公司税。

为提倡创业及加强创意能力,所有新设立公司首10万令吉新币可征税收入,在首3个税收年度可享有全面免税。这些政策有助于提升新加坡公司的竞争力,同时鼓励开发更多对经济有效率的活动。

政府推动制造业成长及创新肯定肯有特殊的意义。目前,我国政府非常依赖石油与天然气收入。2007年,石油与天然气占国家总收入超过40%的比率。一旦我国从2011年开始变成石油净入口国,而国内石油储备量在未来不到20年内即将枯竭,届时国家收入就会大受影响!

我们唯一能够补救的方法,就是通过创业及创新提高国家的经济生产率,进而替代未来可能失去的石油收入。政府不能忽视中小型企业与制造业的潜能。否则,经济危机迟早会摆在我们眼前!

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Why are you dissapointed Tony, knowing before hand that his budget will only benefit the industries that sekomi is involved in, nothing new with this merrydollah, let's kick him out.

Unknown said...

It has already been made clear on the recent Budget that our GDP growth is fuelled by domestic consumption. Hopefully more Mega Sale will boost local activity to make up for the lacklusture performance in the manufacturing sector.

What we see on Budget is only some percentage waiver of taxes here and there with hope the private sector will take care of themselves to improve on the quality aspects.

Government agency like MATRADE is staffed by incompetent frontline personnel who can't give proper advise over overseas import regulation. How can local SMEs penetrate the export market if they can't even receive market intelligence?

zewt said...

announcements of incentives are no longer confined to just during the budget... who knows...