KUALA LUMPUR — A PAS MP explained today that most of the party’s lawmakers abstained from the Budget 2017 vote last night since it has already expressed its objection during the debates in Dewan Rakyat.
According to Kuala Nerus MP Datuk Dr Khairuddin Aman Razali, the Islamist party has also provided its suggestions on how Putrajaya can improve on the Budget.
“PAS has taken a neutral stand,” the PAS central working committee member told Malay Mail Online over text message.
“PAS has criticised the government through the Budget 2017 debate session on issues and matters that PAS does not agree with, for the government to take responsibility, in addition to providing various suggestions for improvement.”
Last night, 11 out of 14 PAS MPs abstained from voting. Only Pokok Sena MP Datuk Mahfuz Omar voted against the Budget.
PAS president and Marang MP Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was noticeably absent, and so was Dungun MP Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli.
Khairuddin confirmed that the order to abstain came from the party’s leadership.
PAS information chief and Temerloh MP Nasruddin Hassan was reported telling reporters at the Parliament yesterday that the party’s MPs abstained because PAS did not wholly oppose the Budget.
“PAS has opted for our own approach. There are things we oppose and we already opposed them during debate. These included the GST and 1MDB too,” he said, referring to the Goods and Services Tax and state-owned fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad.
PAS has previously touted its “constructive opposition” approach, where it said it will not simply oppose the government but will also offer constructive criticism.
Budget 2017 was passed at the policy stage last night through a bloc vote with 117 votes in favour and 70 votes against.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who had tabled the Budget as finance minister was also not present during the vote.
MALAY MAIL
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