[ad_1]
PETALING JAYA: The vote on the federal budget, scheduled for Thursday, would likely be delayed until December 1, as about half of the ministries have yet to address the issues raised in the Dewan Rakyat.
Citing a government source, The Straits Times reported that 16 ministries have yet to “conclude.”
“We have to give them the necessary time,” the government official, who wanted to remain anonymous, was quoted as saying by the Singapore daily.
Earlier this month, it was decided that Dewan Rakyat’s session will only be from 10 am to 2 pm due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It was also revealed that each ministry would be given just 20 minutes, compared to nearly an hour earlier, to address issues related to their ministry on budget.
Passing the federal budget is crucial for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, the first since his government came to power in March, as defeat could trigger elections.
Last month, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, advised MPs to support the budget. However, there have been indications that many MPs, including some from Umno, will not support the budget unless certain conditions are met.
These conditions include an extension of the loan moratorium and a one-time withdrawal of up to RM10,000 from Account 1 of the Employee Provident Fund (EPF).
However, earlier this month, the president of Barisan Nasional (BN), Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, assured Muhyiddin that the 43 parliamentarians of the coalition will support the government’s annual budget.
Tonight, 20 MPs, including ministers and vice ministers, said they would back Muhyiddin and support the budget.
