Don’t waste time with budget if dissolving Parliament soon, Guan Eng tells PM

 

Lim Guan Eng says Ismail Sabri Yaakob must see that the tabling of the 2023 budget is carried out ’till completion’.

PETALING JAYA: DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng has told Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob not to waste the time of MPs in tabling and debating Budget 2023 if he plans to dissolve Parliament soon.

Lim said Ismail should see to it that the budget was passed “completely” if he planned to table it.

In an Utusan Malaysia report, the Bagan MP said Pakatan Harapan would only decide whether to support or oppose the budget after it was tabled as the coalition wanted to see if the budget was “really for the people”.

“I want to remind the prime minister, if he intends to dissolve (Parliament), don’t table the budget. That’s just a waste of our time. But if it’s tabled, then make sure it is carried out till completion,” he said.

Meanwhile, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said five bills passed in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday would become void if Parliament was dissolved before the bills reached the Senate and obtained the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s assent.

“A responsible prime minister would not mock Parliament by making the Dewan Rakyat debate and pass bills that do not become laws,” the Iskandar Puteri MP said in a statement.

Last Friday, Umno’s Supreme Council had agreed that Parliament should be dissolved soon for elections to be held this year.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, an Umno vice-president, was given the discretion to propose a date to the King for the dissolution of Parliament. - FMT