PERIKATAN Nasional scored a major victory today when it managed to pass Budget 2021 in the Dewan Rakyat after making several adjustments.

After 13 days of debate, the lower house passed next year’s budget at the policy stage (second reading) by voice vote at 3.26pm.

Although Mahfuz Omar (Pokok Sena-PH) called for division voting, he could not muster the minimum 15 MPs to effect an individual count of those supporting or opposing the budget.

During the winding-up by Finance Minister Senator Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, the government agreed to extend the loan moratorium to all B40 income earners and small businesses.

It also agreed to allow 8 million EPF contributors to withdraw up to RM10,000 from their account 1 in one lump sum instead of RM6,000 across 12 months.

Before speaker Azhar Azizan Harun called for a vote, Khalid Samad (Shah Alam-PH) protested to Tengku Zafrul that there was hardly any engagement with the opposition.

“The government did not engage with the opposition despite the king’s advice.

“We were only consulted once,” said the Amanah leader as government backbenchers shouted him down.

Amid the raised voices, Azhar asked Tengku Zafrul to wrap up his speech. 

“No budget is 100% perfect, but believe us that this is our best effort after considering 6,600 suggestions from 40 engagements involving 100 groups. 

“Some of the 6,600 suggestions came from the opposition, too. 

“As such, I invite all MPs to support this budget as Malaysians are waiting for it outside. Let the news from Parliament today be good news,” said the former banker.

Parliament will begin debating Budget 2021 at the committee stage next Monday, when the expenditure of each ministry will be scrutinised.

Though the budget has passed the policy stage, it could falter at the committee stage as each ministry’s allocation has to be voted on to be approved.

PN must ensure there are enough members in the Dewan Rakyat chamber as the opposition could call for a division vote in a bid to scupper the budget funding for each ministry. – November 26, 2020.