CARETAKER health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said on Tuesday that Budget 2023, which was tabled by his colleague Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, is not a manifesto.

A manifesto is a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer, while every budget, as explained by Matilda George, is essentially a supply bill.

Like all bills, the supply bill must be passed by parliament – that is, the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara – and assented to by the Agong. The bill then becomes an act of parliament – a federal law that authorises the government to spend from its coffers. 

Until then, the supply bill known as Budget 2023 remains a proposal. In other words, a manifesto. – October 13, 2022.

* Hafiz Hassan reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.