MPs: Putrajaya free to plagiarise Harapan's budget strategy

Pakatan Harapan will be very pleased if Putrajaya adopts their suggestions in the coalition's newly launched strategy document for Budget 2022.

At a press conference in Parliament today after launching the document, three Harapan lawmakers involved in dialogues with the Finance Ministry on Budget 2022 said most of their proposals were accepted in principle.

"Tiru semua pun tak apa (It's okay if they plagiarise everything). We've afforded them that right," said Damansara MP Tony Pua.

Subang MP Wong Chen said whether the Finance Ministry will "put the money where their mouth is" will only be known on Friday.

Putrajaya has pledged to consult Harapan on Budget 2022 as part of the memorandum of understanding inked in September to ensure that Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is not toppled by internal strife.

Harapan's Budget 2022 document will serve as a guide for its MPs when debating Budget 2022 which will be tabled this Friday. 

The coalition was not offering an alternative budget since it was in dialogue with the government on Budget 2022.

Generally, Harapan's main strategy is to pump RM45 billion into Putrajaya's Covid-19 fund to help economic recovery, deal with the post-pandemic era, assist the poor and restore livelihoods.

Harapan had also proposed institutional reforms to provide more funding for Parliament select committees and providing more funding for state governments.

The coalition is also proposing special cash handouts for children under 12 and subsidised childcare.

Currently, there are nine select committees set up to scrutinise specific government ministries.

However, there are nine ministries that are not covered by any select committees.

During a briefing on the strategy document earlier, Pua explained that select committees currently are not adequately staffed and at least two research officers are needed for each.

He also urged the government to ensure that select committee hearings can be broadcast live.

He said that select committees were one of the best check and balance tools.

"We urge the Finance Ministry to ensure that the select committees are adequately funded to ensure they have more 'teeth' to discharge their duties.

"We don't want any more 'coffeeshop talk' which does not result in change," he said. - Mkini