We need a new hope, says DAP trio after budget vote

 

Following yesterday’s passage of the Budget 2021 proposal at the Dewan Rakyat, a trio of DAP parliamentarians hinted that the opposition coalition needs to make a change.

In a trilingual statement jointly issued by Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching, Bakri MP Yeo Bee Yin, and Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh, they hinted that the opposition needs to offer "a new hope" after a disappointing showing.

“As we close the year, we need a new dream. A new hope. All of us need to make personal sacrifices by laying down personal agendas to build a collective dream. One that is beyond ourselves - our interests and ambitions.

“Two is better than one. A cord of three strands is not easily broken (just like our friendship). Unity is priceless.

“We need to come back to the table and rethink - what can we offer to the nation and her beautiful people? Pray we have the courage to change,” they said.

They also expressed disappointment that many important issues had been raised in Parliament during the budget debates but did not receive satisfactory answers from Perikatan Nasional (PN) ministers.

And yet, when the opposition turned up in full force to vote against the budget, they did not succeed.

The supply bill had passed its final stage at the Dewan Rakyat with 111 MPs voting in favour, 108 MPs against, and one MP absent.

The vote was seen as a proxy confidence vote in Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s leadership, but the opposition’s failure to block it has raised questions regarding opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership instead.

Anwar previously claimed to have secured support from a "strong, formidable and convincing" number of MPs. His credibility has taken a serious dent when the supposed support failed to materialise.

- Mkini