Don’t allow Budget 2023 to be used as BN’s election tool, says Guan Eng

 

DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng says the general election should not be held this year.

PETALING JAYA: DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng warned that holding the 15th general election (GE15) this year may result in Budget 2023 being used as a tool by the Barisan Nasional-led (BN) government.

The Bagan MP said while Umno is correct that the country’s economy is in a state of decline, the party is responsible for destabilising their own prime minister with repeated threats to call for an early GE15.

“The general election should not be called this year to avoid turning the Budget 2023 presentation into an ‘election budget’ designed primarily not to resolve the country’s economic problems but to bolster the election prospects of the prime minister and his party,” he said in a statement.

Lim also claimed that the RM50 billion in dividends declared by Petronas for the government for 2022 would not be used for the benefit of the people but “squandered for political interest”.

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“The rakyat must take back the spirit of Merdeka from unscrupulous politicians and ensure full accountability of the utilisation and spending of the RM50 billion public funds,” he said.

On Friday, law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said Budget 2023 will be tabled on Oct 7, three weeks earlier than initially scheduled.

Wan Junaidi also said the next Dewan Rakyat meeting will start on Oct 3, with next year’s national budget to be tabled four days later.

He said the change of dates was not linked to GE15, which is expected by many to be held this year. - FMT