IT is irresponsible to back the government’s budget without studying it first, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad and MPs from his Pejuang party.

The parliamentarians of the yet-to-be-registered party said in a joint statement tonight that Budget 2021 must be studied first before deciding whether to support it.

“We want to make sure this budget takes care of the people and revives the economy.”

The MPs said they, too, have ideas on overcoming certain economic problems and they were not politicising the issue but merely fulfilling their obligations to their constituents.

“The government and ministers are not functioning as needed by the people. The focus is only on their political positions.”

Earlier today, Pakatan Harapan made six demands to the Perikatan Nasional government in order for the opposition to support the budget, which will be tabled on Friday.

The opposition bloc forwarded the demands in their meeting with Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz today.

The Pejuang MPs also lauded the call by Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan to grant a walkover to Warisan for the Batu Sapi by-election.

This was to prevent a Covid-19 outbreak similar to what happened in Sabah after the state polls on September 26.

“We understand the people’s frustrations with partisan politics, (which has been) prioritised over the people’s needs.

“Any decision or measures taken by Parliament must hinge on the people’s welfare,” said the Pejuang statement.

The statement was signed by four MPs – Dr Mahathir (Langkawi), Mukhriz Mahathir (Jerlun), Amiruddin Hamzah (Kubang Pasu) and Shahruddin Md Salleh (Sri Gading).

It is unclear why Maszlee Malik (Simpang Renggam), a close Dr Mahathir ally, did not put his name to the statement. – November 1, 2020.