PARLIAMENT | The Dewan Rakyat has passed the International Trade and Industry Ministry's RM1.2 billion budget in a bloc vote with 110 votes in favour and 104 against. Six MPs were not present.
International Trade and Industry Minister Azmin Ali wrapped up the debate while his nemesis Anwar Ibrahim (Harapan-Port Dickson) was among those who took part in the vote.
Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Independent-Langkawi) - who has also been taking swipes at Azmin - was one of the speakers earlier.
Azmin was previously the PKR deputy president before quitting the party during the infamous Sheraton Move in February.
Losing to Azmin is a significant blow to Anwar, who is under pressure to prove that he has majority support in the Dewan Rakyat.
Today's vote marks the first time that Warisan has taken part in a bloc vote during Budget 2021's committee stage.
They had previously snubbed voting due to dissatisfaction with Anwar.
Malaysiakini has identified five of the six MPs absent.
From the opposition, they are Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Semporna), Masir Kujat (PSB-Sri Aman), Chow Kon Yeow (DAP-Tanjong) and Christina Liew (Pakatan Harapan-Tawau).
Liew is believed to be attending to a family emergency.
If these four opposition MPs were present, it would still have not been enough to win the vote today.
Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (BN-Gua Musang) was also absent.
Razaleigh is boycotting the voting in protest of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's leadership.
With the passing of the International Trade and Industry Ministry's budget, the government has passed nine out of 27 ministries' budgets through the committee stage.
Four budgets were passed through a bloc vote and five through voice votes.
[More to follow]
- Mkini
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