Harapan leaders meet finance minister for Budget 2021 talks

 

Several Pakatan Harapan leaders met with Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz for talks on Budget 2021.

Among the opposition representatives present were former finance minister Lim Guan Eng, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, and lawmakers Tony Pua (Damansara), Wong Chen (Subang), Ong Kian Ming (Bangi), and Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor).

Wong said they will be presenting six proposals.

"We will have a statement once the meeting is over," he told reporters at the Finance Ministry building.

The meeting is expected to last until 5pm.

Harapan had been pushing to speak with the government over Budget 2021 in an effort to secure a bipartisan deal.

Previously, there was speculation that Budget 2021 might be voted down as a show of no-confidence against Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

However, after rejecting a bid by the government to secure an emergency declaration - the Yang di-Pertuan Agong advised MPs to support Budget 2021 and ensure that it passes without hindrance.

After the meeting, Mohamad, Lim and Saifuddin, in a joint statement, said it was imperative for the government and opposition to come together in crafting a "unity budget".

"The 2021 Unity Budget must focus on meeting the financial needs of ordinary Malaysians, creating and preserving jobs, ensuring the survivability of corporations and protecting their economic livelihood.

"In essence, we urged the government to pursue an expansionary fiscal policy with the main objective of easing the cash flow challenges of the people and corporations.

"In the meeting, we posed many questions and requested the minister to disclose and share important fiscal data. We also suggested and explained a plethora of our budget ideas and policies," they said.

The six items which the Harapan leaders pitched to the finance minister are:

1. Increase Health Ministry resources for Covid-19 and Non-Communicable Diseases.
2. Expand social protection, safety net and welfare payments for the vulnerable and unemployed by increasing monthly welfare aid to RM1,000 until the end of the Covid-19 crisis as previously promised by the prime minister.
3. Extend the loan moratorium until March 31, 2021.
4. Extend the wage subsidy until March 31, 2021 and create 600,000 jobs under the Malaysia @Work scheme by offering incentives over two years for employers and employees costing RM13 billion.
5. Increase education spending to ensure education continuity, ability to learn from home and social distancing in classes.
6. Development expenditure for the National Fiberisation Connectivity Plan and upgrading of water infrastructure in Selangor, Kelantan and Pahang. - Mkini