BN parties meet ahead of Budget 2021 vote in Parliament

 

BN is holding a meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) tonight, three days before its lawmakers vote on Budget 2021 at the Dewan Rakyat.

When contacted by Malaysiakini, the coalition deputy chairperson Mohamad Hasan (above) confirmed that a discussion will take place tonight but did not divulge the agenda of the meeting.

"The meeting tonight is a scheduled meeting, one that is to be held every three months and it is merely a regular meeting, as scheduled," he said briefly.

It is understood that the meeting, which is being held at Umno's headquarters in PWTC at 8pm, will be attended by the president of each component parties, the chief of their women and youth wings, as well as the BN supreme council leadership and members.

When asked if the meeting would touch on the budget where the parliamentarians are slated to vote on Budget 2021 at the policy stage this Thursday, Mohamad said he was unsure.

"I have no idea about the budget because the budget was debated in Parliament. But, (I) feel that we will not discuss the budget," he said.

The meeting is being held amid reports of Umno MPs allegedly being unhappy with the tabled budget.

Umno leaders have requested that they be given the freedom to vote for or against the budget instead of toeing the party line.

There were also reports of internal friction in Umno where leaders have attacked BN secretary-general Annuar Musa on issues related to the bond between Umno and its splinter party Bersatu.

Meanwhile, a source close to a senior Umno leader also confirmed tonight's meeting.

"BN meets tonight," the source told Malaysiakini.

When contacted, Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said he wasn't sure of the agenda of tonight's meeting. He, however, believed that the meeting may touch on the Gerik by-election.

The Gerik parliamentary seat fell vacant after incumbent Hasbullah Osman died in Raub, Pahang, on Nov 16, from heart disease.

[More to follow] - Mkini