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KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Thursday (Nov 12) that he will reserve his position on whether to support or reject the 2021 budget, while claiming that the current proposed allocations were not “healthy” enough to address COVID-19. pandemic.
“I reserve myself and my party to support or otherwise the budget of the Perikatan Nasional government for 2021.
“I hope that the constructive suggestions made in this chamber will have a place in the 2021 budget,” said Parti President Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) as he concluded his 30-minute budget on the budget in parliament.
In a press conference following their debate, Dr. Mahathir told reporters that his support for the budget would depend on whether or not constructive suggestions are added to the final budget.
“We have not reached the end of the debates. I am sure constructive suggestions will be given. If everything is taken into account, then we can consider supporting.
“However, as of now, we are not sure that the 2021 budget is healthy enough to help the pandemic we face,” he said.
READ: Prime Minister Muhyiddin says the 2021 budget ensures people’s well-being, while Anwar calls for concrete plans to revive the economy
When asked if this meant that his support for the budget was conditional, he said, “Well I need to hear the conditions first, then we’ll see.”
Dr. Mahathir was previously President of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, until he was removed from the party along with several other federal legislators.
Dr. Mahathir then founded Pejuang, a Malaysian-based party, in August. It now has four Members of Parliament (MP) after Dr. Maszlee Malik left the party earlier this month, while Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said he would form a youth-focused party instead.
In his debate Thursday, Dr. Mahathir questioned the reasoning behind giving a small fraction of the RM322.5 billion (US $ 77.9 billion) budget to the COVID-19 vaccine when larger allocations were made to other departments and ministries. .
“I see that only RM3 billion has been allocated for the COVID-19 vaccine. This is only one percent of the total budget. How is this amount sufficient, when this budget is supposed to be a COVID-19 budget?
“It was also noted that the allocation for the Prime Minister’s Department increased from RM7.9 billion in 2020 to RM11.7 billion in this budget. Also the increase for special projects to RM1 billion from the previous RM100 million. What is the need to spend RM125 million on the Angkasapuri complex? “he said, referring to the building that houses the headquarters of Malaysia’s national broadcaster.
READ: BN’s support for the 2021 budget depends on the withdrawal of the retirement fund and the extension of the loan moratorium, says Najib
The Langkawi MP stressed that all of these assignments should be postponed, adding that there should be a greater focus on handling the pandemic.
“Among the things that could be done is increasing the allocation for testing (COVID-19). Instead of enforcing a conditional movement control order at the national level, it should be enforced only where there are clusters. In these areas, everyone should be isolated and tested.
“In this way, those who are healthy will continue to be productive and thus contribute to the economy. Yes, I know that (swab) tests cost a lot of money, but the government could recoup at least half the cost if it allows those who are healthy to work and travel, ”he said.
Malaysian Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz delivered the 2021 budget speech on November 6, 2020 (Photo: Malaysia Department of Information).
THE BEST THING TO LET THE BANKS DECIDE ON THE EXTENSION OF THE MORATORY LOAN
Regardless of the conditions imposed by the opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and the president of the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club, Najib Razak, on the extension of the loan moratorium and the increase of retirement fund withdrawal limits, Dr. Mahathir He said he would have to research these issues.
“The moratorium does not involve the government. It is not government money, it is from the bank, so if the bank thinks it is something that will benefit the country, they should visit the idea of extending the moratorium.
“As for the increase in the retirement limit of the Employee Provident Fund (EPF), we will analyze it,” he said.
READ: Malaysia’s opposition will only support the 2021 budget if it really helps people, says Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar, when debating the budget on Monday, said his support for the budget was subject to the condition that the government extend the loan moratorium and increase the EPF’s withdrawal limit.
Najib echoed him, who on Tuesday said that the loan moratorium should be extended to June 30, 2021 and that the EPF withdrawal limit should be increased to RM 10,000 once instead of RM 500 per month for 12 months
Budget discussions are scheduled to end on December 15.
