PN parties pledge to support Budget 2021

 

Four Perikatan Nasional component parties have pledged support for Budget 2021.

The four parties - Bersatu, PAS, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) - collectively control 50 seats in the Dewan Rakyat. However, Sapp currently does not have any seats in the House.

In a joint statement signed by the leaders of the four parties, PN said the RM322.5 billion budget included RM4.2 billion to help the rakyat, RM4 billion for frontliners and RM3 billion to create 500,000 jobs.

"These are all manifestations of PN's commitment and concern for the welfare and happiness of the rakyat, regardless of race and religion, in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"In view of this, it is very appropriate for everyone to support the decree of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to prioritise the rakyat in these very challenging times," said the coalition.

PN's ability to pass Budget 2021 is still in question given that in July and August, the most votes it was able to cast was 111 - exactly half the number of MPs in the Dewan Rakyat.

In recent weeks, there have been attempts at cajoling the opposition to ensure bi-partisan support for Budget 2021.

Just before it was tabled last Friday, BN MPs had uncharacteristically backed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's demand that all MPs be allowed in the chambers to listen to Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz's speech.

Anwar, who on recent occasions claimed that it was he who commanded the confidence of most MPs, told Parliament yesterday that Budget 2021 had to be amended if the government expected bipartisan support.

The first round of voting on Budget 2021 will take place on Nov 25. - Mkini