PETALING JAYA: Lim Guan Eng has urged the government to hold more talks with the opposition over the next two weeks if it is to pass a “Unity Budget”.
The DAP secretary-general said the budget tabled yesterday did not fulfil the six key recommendations which Pakatan Harapan had proposed to Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz during their budget consultation last week, instead providing the public with “unrealistic projections, financial half measures and political handouts”.
“If the government is serious about passing a ‘Unity Budget’, further discussions must be held with the opposition parties and backbenchers on alternative proposals and amendments to Budget 2021 from now until Nov 25, when a vote at the policy stage will take place in Parliament,” he said.
Lim previously said that there would be no “Unity Budget” if any of the six key measures proposed by PH were rejected.
While he said some of the measures in the budget — such as additional resources to fight Covid-19, increased investments in broadband and internet services to schools, and additional financial assistance to SMEs in Sabah — were consistent with PH’s six recommendations, Lim pointed out several key proposals that were not included, most notably the extension of the bank loan moratorium, which ended in September.
Lim also said DAP was against the “shocking and cruel” cuts” in the health ministry’s budget — which included a 74% decrease for pharmacy and supplies.
LIm also called on the government to increase the direct cash payments to families and individuals in the B40 and M40 categories as well as the continuation of the Workers’ Subsidy Programme (WSP).
Chiding the government for the RM85.5 million allocation given to the information ministry’s Special Affairs Department (Jasa), Lim said the government should immediately withdraw the allocation to this “propaganda agency” if it is sincere in seeking a “Unity Budget”. - FMT
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