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PETALING JAYA: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim criticized Tengku Zafrul Aziz for saying that Putrajaya will not be able to pay the salaries of public servants if the budget is not approved in Parliament.
The PKR president said that even if amendments were made to next year’s budget to improve it, the emoluments of civil servants and the expenses of front-line workers, including medical and health equipment, will not be affected.
“The Finance Minister said that if the 2021 budget presented by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government is not approved, then it will not be able to fulfill its commitments, such as paying the salaries of public officials and it will affect the leaders fighting against Covid . -19.
“I think this is a statement in bad taste that appears to be a threat and part of a plan to ignore the voice of the majority of the deputies,” he said today in a statement.
Anwar said that amendments could be made to produce a better budget that would produce greater benefits for the people without affecting core areas such as the salaries of civil servants and the expenses of the front-line.
“I reiterate my call to the government to re-study the 2021 Budget. The opposition will only support if it is really a budget intended to fight Covid-19,” he said.
Yesterday, Tengku Zafrul said that Putrajaya will not be able to fulfill his commitments, including paying the salaries of civil servants and providing assistance to those in charge, if Parliament does not approve the budget.
“For me, if this budget can help our country, then there is no reason why it should not be approved. If it is rejected, in economic terms, we will not be able to finance the government’s commitments, including the disbursement of aid to the people, ”said the Minister of Finance.
