PAKATAN Harapan will reject the Budget 2021 tomorrow when it comes up for third reading in Dewan Rakyat, said the opposition pact.

It also called on all other opposition lawmakers as well as those in the government to reject the budget, which will be put to a vote after nine days of debate. 

The PH Secretariat Council in a statement today said the Perikatan Nasional government had failed to address many issues brought up during the budget’s committee stage debate in the past two weeks.

“What the finance minister had announced during the tabling or winding up of the Budget 2021 or in a series of media statements after that did not meet the demands and expectations of many MPs – even the people in general. 

“These include our demands on the Employees’ Provident Fund withdrawal, extending the bank loan moratorium, more aid for front-liners and those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, educational issues, overcoming job losses and rising cost of living and many more. 

“PH previously stated it will debate Budget 2021 at the policy and committee stages, and will eventually make a split vote on the third reading. This will happen tomorrow. 

“Therefore, PH urges all MPs, both opposition and government supporters, who understand that this budget does not meet the objectives and goals to fight Covid-19, the people, and revive the economy, to reject it on the third reading,” the statement said. 

The defeat of the Budget 2021 tomorrow would also mean a lost of confidence in Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s razor-thin majority government. 

On November 26, PN scored a major victory when it managed to pass Budget 2021 in the Dewan Rakyat after making several adjustments. 

After 13 days of debate, the lower house passed the budget at the policy stage by voice vote. 

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

During the winding-up by Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, the government agreed to extend the loan moratorium to all bottom 40 income earners and small businesses. 

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

Earlier today, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and veteran Umno lawmaker Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said the government may fall tomorrow following the defeat of the budget vote and volunteered to play a role in leading the nation in a new government. – December 14, 2020.