PETALING JAYA: The vote on the federal budget, scheduled for Thursday, would likely be delayed to Dec 1, as about half the ministries have yet to address issues raised at the Dewan Rakyat.
Quoting a government source, The Straits Times reported that 16 ministries have yet to “wrap up”.
“We have to give them the necessary time,” the government official, who wanted to remain anonymous, was quoted as saying by the Singapore daily.
Earlier this month, it was decided that the Dewan Rakyat sitting will only be from 10am to 2pm due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It was also revealed that each ministry would be given only 20 minutes, compared with almost one hour previously, to address issues related to their ministry in the budget.
The passing of the federal budget is crucial for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, the first since his government came to power in March as defeat could trigger an election.
Last month, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, advised MPs to support the budget. However, there have been hints that many MPs, including some from Umno, will not back the budget unless certain conditions are met.
These conditions include an extension of the loan moratorium and a one-off withdrawal of up to RM10,000 from Account 1 of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
Earlier this month, however, Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi assured Muhyiddin all 43 of the coalition’s MPs will be supporting the government’s annual budget.
This evening 20 MPs, comprising ministers and deputy ministers said they would be backing Muhyiddin and supporting the budget. - FMT
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