High anticipation as Parliament meets for budget session
PETALING JAYA: There has been a lot of anticipation surrounding Parliament’s budget session beginning tomorrow, with the federal government’s 2021 budget due to be tabled on Friday.
Many have been looking forward to the details of the budget and how it aims to improve our healthcare capacity as the country battles the third wave of Covid-19.
There is also talk about MPs filing a motion of no confidence being tabled in the Dewan Rakyat against Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin with 25 opposition MPs listed on the Order Paper as having filed such a motion.
Socio-political analyst Awang Azman Pawi expects tension in the lower house despite the political ceasefire announced by Umno, and also the statement by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong calling on all parliamentarians to support the budget.
“There is no guarantee that the ceasefire proposed by political leaders will control the actions and dynamics among party members.
“Besides that, Umno’s cooperation in Perikatan Nasional only exists in the context of MPs, not the whole party. So it is difficult to prevent the MPs from acting according to current sentiments.
“Therefore, it is not impossible that the budget will be hindered by a lack of majority votes.”
He also predicts that certain Umno leaders, such as Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah might vote against the budget.
Razaleigh had previously urged Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Harun to allow a motion of no confidence against Muhyiddin to be tabled in Parliament.
“It would be difficult to accuse him of going against the King as he is also from a royal household and has great national influence,” Awang Azman said, adding that Razaliegh had been critical about Umno’s support for Muhyiddin and PN.
He added that it has also been said that certain MPs from DAP might give support to Umno in their individual capacities, especially in matters of national interest.
Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii of DAP said he expects fiery debates surrounding the budget, but believes that the final decision will be made based on the welfare of the people and the country.
“I think it is our duty and responsibility as MPs to scrutinise the budget,” he said, adding that this does not necessarily imply voting against it.
“We have to ensure that the budget covers as many sectors as possible and as many people and most importantly, that it really goes to the people who really need it.
“I think everybody is anticipating which direction the budget will take to address the needs of the economy, jobs and education,” he said
Yii said, personally, he will be looking at how the budget will address the needs of healthcare systems, in terms of infrastructure facilities and also human resources.
Meanwhile, Subang MP Wong Chen of PKR hopes there will be a follow up meeting before Nov 6 to the budget consultation process. He said the party hopes the government will implement the proposals by Pakatan Harapan.
“PH had made proposals and recommendations to the (finance) minister and also requested some better fiscal information. We hope the government will respond positively and amend the budget so as to accommodate our recommendations,” he said.
Yesterday, PH leaders met with Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz to give their budget recommendations. PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said PH had yet to decide if they would support or vote against the budget.
An MP from PAS, Che Abdullah Mat Nawi, said that Dewan Rakyat members should provide constructive criticism of the budget.
He added that it was of the utmost importance that the budget be approved as the people were struggling from widespread salary cuts and job losses following the pandemic.
“This does not mean MPs can’t debate or give their views, but the MPs should give positive and constructive views that can help the government come up with an expansive budget that will benefit the rakyat.”
Che Abdullah who is MP for Tumpat, Kelantan, said the government under the Shared Prosperity Vision must also help close the development gap between Kelantan and other states.
Other bills that are due to be tabled include the Co-operatives (Amendment) Bill, Poisons (Amendment) Bill, and the Independent Police Conduct Commission Bill.
The first reading of the Co-operative (Amendment) Bill was tabled by Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Mas Ermieyati Samsudin in August. Its minister Wan Junaidi Jaafar had said that the bill also proposed an amendment to reduce the number of co-operative board members to three people from the existing six, among others.
The IPCC Bill was also tabled for its first reading in August by Deputy Home Minister Ismail Mohamed Said. The law will replace the withdrawn Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission Bill introduced by the previous government.
Among the changes proposed in the IPCC Bill is for the commission to fall under the home ministry’s purview instead of the Prime Minister’s Department.
Bar Council president Salim Bashir said the government should consider the tabling of an anti-hopping law for politicians considering recent political developments.
“Equally, the Bar also hopes that unjust and preventive detention laws such as the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, Prevention of Crime Act and others can be reviewed and abolished.” - FMT
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