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PETALING JAYA: DAP MPs have faced a storm of angry reactions from party leaders and supporters for allowing the 2021 Budget to pass the political stage.
This prompted the party’s head of parliament, Anthony Loke, to apologize to supporters who had condemned his alleged inaction.
The Seremban MP justified the decision, however, saying that DAP did not reject the budget as a whole.
“There were areas where we could agree and support, such as salaries for civil servants, a special allowance for the front-line, cash assistance for the people, wage subsidies for employers, allowances for public transportation such as MY30 and other allowances. that would directly benefit the people.
“At the same time, we also rejected many allocations such as RM85mil for the Department of Special Affairs (Jasa), cuts in allocations to schools of different streams and other issues that were raised by the Opposition,” he said in a statement.
However, Loke, who is also the National Organization Secretary of the DAP, said the fight is not over, as the 2021 Budget still has to go through discussions at the committee stage before Parliament considers it fully approved.
He said that what happened on Thursday (Nov 26) simply meant that the 2021 Budget had passed the policy stage and the ministries’ allocations would have to be discussed once more in detail before being approved.
“Did Parliament approve the Budget on Thursday? The answer is no … as of Monday (November 30), every day there will be a possibility that at least 15 deputies call a block vote,” he said.
Malaysians who read Loke’s comment on the Budget voting process expressed disappointment in his Facebook comment section.
One commenter said that while he respects Loke, he said that Loke’s explanation made no sense, while another hinted that Pakatan Harapan may have lost its strength.
Loke’s explanation also drew criticism from those linked to the party.
Selangor DAP committee member Teng Chang Khim said that any explanation made outside Parliament was not good enough.
“If you did not stand up in Parliament to object, please do not tell me on Facebook that you object. It is a shame,” said Bandar Assemblyman Baru Klang.
Loke’s explanation came hours after lawyer Syahredzan Johan, who is also an assistant to the DAP politician stalwart and Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang, posted on Twitter that people needed an explanation about what happened in Parliament.
“An explanation is in order. We owe this to the people,” he said on Twitter.
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