Deputy minister thanks PAS for abstaining in budget vote

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki thanked PAS for abstaining in tonight's Budget 2018 vote.

"Budget 2018 passed the policy stage with 107 votes in support to 59 votes against.

"11 PAS MPs abstained. Thank you PAS," he said in a Facebook posting.

With the exception of those who abstained, the Budget 2018 passed along partisan lines.

Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar, the sole PAS MP who voted against the budget, had forced his party MPs to put the abstain votes on record by requesting for bloc voting.

Mahfuz's request for bloc voting was backed by Pakatan Harapan MPs.

Bloc voting would require every MP to record their vote, as opposed to the conventional voice vote.

The Budget 2018 debate will proceed to the committee stage tomorrow.

PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad, who is also Bukit Gantang MP, defended his party's official position to abstain.

"PAS abstaining means there are items that PAS supports, but also there are others that PAS opposes.

"PAS supports a budget that benefits the people such as the building of schools and hospitals, BR1M, scholarships as well as aids for farmers and fishermen.

"PAS opposes the yet to be resolved 1MDB, Felda issues, the goods and services tax that burdens the poor, tolls, leakages, projects that failed to meet targets, discrimination and cronyism," he said.

Idris said PAS' enemies may accuse the party of cosying up with Umno but stressed that PAS had its own stance.- Mkini