Looks like we’re being taken for a ride with Budget 2021

 

I can't help but wonder if we’ve been taken for a ride by the opposition during this budget season in Parliament. As I have mentioned many times before, the tabling and debate of Budget 2021 are very crucial for two reasons.

The first and foremost is that the rakyat is depending on a proper budget allocation to help them and the country through a very tough pandemic period. Secondly, it is also about how the government that is currently administering the country is not the government that people voted for.

As much as it is a legit and valid government (let’s face the fact that under the law, MPs can choose to support whoever they want), the people voted based on different promises, manifestos, and coalitions.

Let us address the second issue first. Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been making attempts to take back power from the current Perikatan Nasional (PN) federal coalition. The last was when he grandly declared that he had enough numbers in Parliament to take the government. He even went to see the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. As we all know, nothing came out of it.

So the budget was to be the next step. If there are more MPs who vote against the budget, then it would mean that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin would have lost majority support and has to step down. Also, if the budget is not approved, the government can’t function. Hence, Parliament would most probably have to be dissolved and fresh elections called.

This would have been the most ideal way to give the people the right to vote for the government of their choice once again. However, as certain circumstances unfolded (failed attempt at emergency and everything), the Agong had ‘advised’ Parliament that the budget should be approved because it would be crucial during these times.

Again, as I have mentioned several times before, I doubt that the Agong meant that the PN government could just come up with any kind of budget and that it had to be approved.

I interpret it as a request for all stakeholders to consult and discuss with each other to come up with a budget that everyone can agree on and is the best to serve the people.

But I guess the government had a different interpretation. No consultation was ever made except for one two-hour meeting with selected opposition MPs. And even then, the budget took nothing from the recommendations made by the select committee. No goodwill there as I can see. I guess PN was just banking on the opposition listening to the Agong literally.

Of course, the opposition said they would not vote for the budget if none of their recommendations were implemented. But we all know how that turned out. Anwar instructed everyone to let the budget fly through the first round - U-turn number one. The excuse was that they can still ensure the budget is amended through the committee stage debates.

At the time of writing, the score stands at 11-0, with PN leading. There have been four bloc votes and PN won by small margins. The other seven were passed just like that. So here I am back to wondering what exactly is happening with the opposition and their stand on the budget.

The opposition clearly stated that they didn’t agree with the budget before this because it would be detrimental to the people. But now, they seem to be letting everything go. At the end of the day, is the whole budget just going to pass without opposition? And this brings me to the first reason I mentioned above as to why the budget is important - the rakyat is depending on it.

I would like to see check-and-balance in Parliament. The government will claim to be doing what is right for the people and so will the opposition. They debate, supposedly for the benefit of the people as well, so that the best possible decision is made for the people. But at the moment, it just seems that both sides are taking everyone for a ride to ensure their political survival.

This is the result of democracy gone wrong. When politicians take matters into their own hands without considering who voted for them and why. They make decisions not based on the promises they made while trying to secure votes from the people. They make decisions to ensure their own survival.

There will be many people who will respond to this by saying “Were you expecting any different in Malaysia?”. I guess I can’t say that this is surprising. But I just like to have hope. And even if my hope disappears, I still feel that we need to make noise about all of this. We can’t just let politicians do this and be unaccountable.

If initially, I wanted fresh elections to be held so that Malaysians can vote and decide on a new government, I think my stand is slowly changing now. Instead of having fresh elections, can we just start fresh with totally new politicians? Those who aren’t corrupt by the idea of power and position. Sounds impossible, huh?

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ZAN AZLEE is a writer, documentary film-maker, journalist, and academic. He waited so long for a change in the system and he is not willing to settle for a half-past-six change. And then the Sheraton Move happened. Visit fatbidin.com to view his work. - Mkini

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.