Budget vote today, Parliament session extended

 

PARLIAMENT | The first vote on Budget 2021 will be held today.

De facto Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan this morning moved a motion to extend today's Dewan Rakyat proceedings until a vote is held.

"(I move that) today's proceedings will not be postponed until all ministries have completed answering the policy stage debate for the Supply Bill 2021, and the (budget's) second reading and the motion on the estimated development (expenditure) is decided on," he said.

Deciding, or voting, on the second reading marks the end of the policy stage - after which there will be another round of debates and more votes on the budget.

Takiyuddin's motion was passed by a voice vote.

Based on progress as of 12.30pm, the vote is likely to be held sometime between 2pm and 3pm.

There are nine ministries that will be wrapping up their sections of the policy stage debate today.

The vote is a crucial one for Perikatan Nasional and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is facing pressure to prove his control of the Dewan Rakyat.

Umno has been sending signals that its MPs may consider withholding support for the budget unless their requests for an expanded EPF withdrawal scheme and automatic loan moratoriums for all B40 and M40, are taken up by the government.

Umno leaders met to discuss their demands with Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz yesterday, and they are expecting an announcement today.

Any possible announcement will likely be made when Zafrul wraps up the finance ministry's section of the policy stage this evening.

If the budget survives the vote today, it is still not yet the end of the road.

Votes will be held during the committee stage of the bill's debate as well.

Usually, any effort to defeat the budget is only done during the policy stage, and the Supply Bill will pass through the committee stage with voice votes.

However, Pakatan Harapan had in 2017 mounted a surprise ambush during the committee stage, and narrowly lost by just one vote.

BN and PAS MPs likewise staged an ambush during the committee stage in 2019

Opposition MPs had previously told Malaysiakini that in the event Budget 2021 was not passed, Article 102 of the Federal Constitution could be invoked to table a separate bill to authorise essential spending.

Essential spending could include civil servant emoluments and healthcare expenses needed to battle the Covid-19 pandemic. - Mkini