Commenting on the country’s GDP contracting by 0.5% in the first quarter of the year, Lim said GDP in the remaining quarters needs to reach at least 10% to meet the government’s projections.

He recalled that the Perikatan Nasional-led government, when presenting the annual budget last November, had hoped the economic recovery would result in GDP growth by the first quarter of 2021.

“If MCO 2.0 for two weeks can turn an expected positive first quarter GDP growth negative, then MCO 3.0, which is twice as long as MCO 2.0, will affect the 10% GDP growth we need for the remainder of the year,” he said in a statement.

Lim said it was unrealistic for finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz to declare that MCO 3.0 would not have a significant impact on economic growth and continue to maintain the 6% to 7.5% projected rate.

The Bagan MP questioned if this meant there would not be any more financial or economic measures to assist the people during the third national lockdown.

He also urged the government to explain why the people had not fully benefited from the annual budget’s initiatives and the various stimulus packages worth RM622 billion.

“The RM622 billion should technically result in each Malaysian receiving more than RM19,000 in benefits over the course of one year. Where then, is the RM19,000 in benefits for each Malaysian that can help to save jobs, businesses and economic livelihoods?”