KUALA LUMPUR: The 2018 Budget can address social problems in the country by starting from the family unit.
Prof Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, who is the founding director of the Institute of Ethnic Studies (Kita) in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), said the family unit was the heart of the country.
He said there were no social problems which did not begin from the family.
He said the government made the right move by planning to establish the Socio-Economic Research Institute (Seri) under the Prime Minister's Department.
Seri will review and evaluate the effectiveness of policies, implementation of programmes and development projects.
Shamsul Amri lauded the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak that Kita would be upgraded as a national institution.
He said Kita would coordinate studies on national socioeconomic education and establish the national social development index.
He said it was important to know the nature of families in Malaysia, be it extended or single-mother families.
Only then, he said, social problems could be addressed and even then it would take up to 15 years to solve it.
“We have to know what is exactly the situation in Malaysia and hybridise government organisation in addressing social problems more effectively,” he said at a press conference on the 2018 Budget.
UKM vice-chancellor Prof Tan Sri Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali said it was important not to underestimate the importance of maintaining the nation’s social strength.
“It is very important that progress is measured in a wider context.
“It should not be based just on income and science and technology, but also social development,” he said.
Prof Datin Dr. Norizan Abdul Razak, who is director of UKM's women leadership centre said 2018 Budget was more inclusive for women.
As an example, she said the Budget provided for pregnant women and their husband to finish work early and go back home.
She added that the welfare of babies were taken into account from the time they were born, while flexible hours would be allotted to parents and they could hire maids directly without having to go through agencies which could be expensive.
“It goes to show that the family institution is given emphasis as it is recognised that social problems begin from home.
“The Budget is also inclusive in proposing that local authorities make it compulsory for all new offices to provide a child care centre starting with Kuala Lumpur.
“It is as if the Budget is by the grassroots,” she said.
She also said the increase of mandatory 90 days maternity leave for the private sector would help the mother bond with her baby.