BUDGET 2021 in its current form will not be passed, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The former prime minister said the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government should consider the opposition’s requests to make sure the budget is supported by all.

“This budget is not entirely acceptable. We need an amendment and the government should accept proposals from the opposition. Don’t think about (proposals from) government parties only,” Dr Mahathir told The Malaysian Insight yesterday.

The chairman of the yet-to-be-registered Pejuang party is set to debate the budget in Dewan Rakyat today at 11am for 30 minutes.

Among the suggestions from both opposition lawmakers and backbenchers to be included in the budget are an extension of the loan moratorium, withdrawal of up to RM10,000 from Account 1 of the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and more allocations to combat Covid-19.

Yesterday at Parliament’s lobby, Shahidan Kassim said the government is willing to consider the demands made by Barisan Nasional to approve a one-off withdrawal from the EPF Account 1 and a loan moratorium extension for all.

The PN Backbenchers’ Club (PNBBC) chairman said Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz is willing to consider the suggestions following calls made by allies and rivals in Dewan Rakyat for the changes to be made in order to gain support for the budget.

Dr Mahathir said the budget has many problems and allocations for unnecessary items, which angered the opposition and even some PN backbenchers.

“This budget is not flawless at all. There are many defects. There are also provisions for entities that do not need assistance,” he said.

The budget tabled by the PN government last Friday was greeted with brickbats after failing to address the economic crisis the country is going through amid the pandemic.

Several lawmakers have slammed the needless proposed allocations of RM85.5 million for the Special Affairs Department (Jasa) and RM8.6 million for Penggerak Komuniti Tempatan (PeKT), the civil society group linked to Bersatu leader Zuraida Kamaruddin.

Both BN backbencher chairman Najib Razak and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim have threatened to withdraw support for the budget unless amendments are made.

Najib has 43 lawmakers under the BN banner and Anwar has 91 seats under the Pakatan Harapan banner.

This comes despite the Yang di-Pertuan Agong urging all lawmakers to support Budget 2021 in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the urgent requirement of funds for medical supplies and front-liners.

Dr Mahathir said MPs are not keen on supporting the budget despite the Agong’s advice as the budget is populist in nature and ignores the interests of the people.

“We find that this budget does not pay attention to help those who have lost their jobs, no source of income, and are facing starvation, those whose souls are already threatened… some have even committed suicide.”

Four of Pejuang’s lawmakers, including Dr Mahathir (Langkawi), Mukhriz Mahathir (Jerlun), Amiruddin Hamzah (Kubang Pasu) and Shahruddin Salleh (Sri Gading) said they have trouble supporting the budget as it does not consider the king’s aspirations and gave the government carte blanche to spend on politics.

The Muhyiddin Yassin government, which is backed by only 113 of the 222 MPs in Dewan Rakyat, is hoping the opposition will vote for its first federal budget as it still has unresolved issues with BN. – November 12, 2020.