CARETAKER prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today said the government has money to implement the Budget 2023, tabled on October 7, which is the largest budget ever prepared involving an allocation of RM372.3 billion.

“When we announced the budget in parliament, that means we already had the money to implement everything we promised ... the money is already there but (the budget) has not been passed yet. 

“If you want the budget to be implemented, vote for us and (the budget) can be retabled and approved,” he said when officiating Umno’s Bera division delegates’ meeting at the Bera District Council Convention Hall today. 

Today, several media outlets reported that the Gerakan Tanah Air sponsor chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad questioned the government’s ability to implement the essence of Budget 2023 because he claimed, among other things, that the government lacked funds and lacked efficiency to implement those projects.

Ismail also stressed that the budget, which was formulated covering all levels of society, aims to benefit the grassroots and not just the “tycoons”, as claimed by some parties.

He said expenditure for development would involve, among others, rural infrastructure such as roads and bridges. These small and medium projects involved an allocation of RM3.7 billion and would benefit about 5,000 G1- to G4-class contractors.

“These projects are for the good of the people. Rural infrastructure – who will benefit? Every development project benefits the grassroots, including the Orang Asli communities.

“As for health, I ordered that allocations be increased for Sabah and Sarawak because the rural clinics there are in poor condition, as well as for education in Sabah and Sarawak because the schools are also in poor condition,” he said. 

Ismail also blamed the opposition for failing to fulfil the manifesto that was announced in the last general election, which ultimately caused Dr Mahathir, as prime minister at the time, to issue a statement that the election manifesto was not a bible that has to be religiously followed. – Bernama, October 16, 2022.