Premature to declare support for 2021 Budget, says PH

 

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail says the finance minister is prepared to have more meetings with Pakatan Harapan on the 2021 Budget.

PUTRAJAYA: PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail says it is still too early for the opposition to say whether or not they will support next year’s federal budget when it is tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on Friday (Nov 6).

He said the meeting between Pakatan Harapan leaders and Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz was just the first step.

“Today is the first step in negotiations. Tengku Zafrul also said he was prepared to have more meetings with us. It is a process. On our end, we have given our recommendations,” said Saifuddin after the meeting.

“So, about our support (in the Dewan Rakyat vote) it is too premature for us to answer that right now,” he told reporters.

In a statement released after the meeting, PH said six recommendations were made to provide greater resources for:

• the battle against Covid-19 and non-communicable diseases;
• greater social protection and welfare aid;
• an extension of a moratorium on loan repayments;
• extension of wage subsidies;
• a focus on creating green jobs and green infrastructure;
• greater spending on education; and
• funds for the national fibre project as well as water infrastructure in three states.

The PH statement said: “We hope that these recommendations will be accepted and incorporated into the Unity Budget. We now await the responses from the government in this consultative process.”

The joint statement was signed by Saifuddin, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu.
Describing the budget as a “Unity Budget”, the PH leaders said it was crucial for upholding the royal decree rejecting an emergency proclamation for the country and avoiding a snap general election, which will only worsen the current third wave of Covid-19 infections.”

They said that, on the advice of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, they had taken part in the budget consultative process “in the spirit of good faith”.

They said: “PH is committed in working with all parties to combat Covid-19 to save the rakyat and our economy. However, PH reiterates that this consultative process does not imply any PH support or acceptance of the present federal government but to work together for a Unity Budget that benefits both the nation, our national economy and the rakyat.”

Those at the meeting were: Saifuddin Nasution, Nik Nazmi, Akmal Nasir and Wong Chen (PKR); Lim Guan Eng, Tony Pua, Ong Kian Ming and Liew Chin Tong (DAP); and Mohamad Sabu, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and Adly Zahari (Amanah). - FMT