The 2022 budget announced today includes RM11.4 billion for Bumiputera programmes, of which RM6.6 billion is for Bumiputera education programmes. Other Bumiputera allocations include RM4.8 billion for capacity-building programmes and RM100 million in matching grants for Bumiputera SMEs in the aerospace industry.

“Nice to be Bumiputeras… billions set aside,” noted Zaid in a tweet. “(This) must be the only country in the world where (the) Budget is race-specific,” he said.

He added that it was also “nice” to be a civil servant since they were “always getting cash handouts” during budget announcements and Hari Raya.

Among the benefits civil servants are poised to receive include RM1.3 billion in a special one-off aid of RM700 each to 1.3 million civil servants in Grade 56 and below, and a RM350 payment to one million retirees, five additional days of unrecorded leave, and a 2% interest rate on loans for buying computers and smartphones.