BN still supports Budget 2021, says Umno leader

 

Umno as part of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government has no reservations to support Budget 2021, said party supreme council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.

The Pasir Salak MP said Umno had made a decision on the matter and there was "no reason" to reject the budget tabled last Friday.

"Personally, I am satisfied with Budget 2021, which is seen as being able to help the people at all levels.

"Although we are a part of the government, we also have a role to perform a 'check and balance'," Tajuddin (above) said when contacted.

"As 'backbenchers' I am happy because of the large allocation that benefits all the people," he added. 

He also insisted that BN will support the Supply Bill 2021 in its current form, despite placing "conditions" as stated by BN backbenchers chief Najib Abdul Razak.

The former premier in his budget debate on Tuesday said BN's Budget 2021 support is conditional as Umno maintains its demand on the government to extend the Covid-19 loan moratorium for six months and to allow a RM10,000 one-off withdrawal from the Employees Providence Fund (EPF) Account 1.

Najib's statement was criticised by PAS' Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari who likened BN's "conditional support" to the Puteri Gunung Ledang folklore, set to signal a rejection rather than acceptance.

Ahmad Fadhli added that it was quite odd for the Pekan MP to declare conditions for BN's support.

When contacted, a BN MP who declined to be named said the matter is a "non-issue" as the two conditions have been communicated to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin by top BN leaders.

"Actually, it is no longer an issue. BN has declared undivided support for Budget 2021, but also presented a consideration for the prime minister to extend the moratorium and allow withdrawals from EPF Account 1.

"So for me, what was raised by Najib in Parliament is no longer an issue. It is line with what has been decided (by BN)," the MP told Malaysiakini.

Last Wednesday, two days prior to the tabling of the budget in Parliament, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had declared BN's unwavering support for the budget.

This followed Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah's repeated advice for MPs to set their political differences aside and ensure the budget is passed.

Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz had also met with MPs from both the government and opposition parties to seek bipartisan support, but since then, concerns have been raised that the final budget did not incorporate many of the demands made. - Mkini