[ad_1]
KUALA LUMPUR: Despite calls for a bipartisan effort towards next year’s budget, Malaysia’s opposition parties have indicated that there will be no general support for the government of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
Last Friday (October 23), after a special cabinet meeting, Muhyiddin had gone to Pahang to meet with Malaysian King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to present his suggestions for declaring a state of emergency. , citing the worsening. COVID-19 situation and ongoing political instability.
After meeting with the Malaysian rulers, the king said on Sunday that he felt there was no need to declare a state of emergency.
Following this coup to the government, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), after a series of meetings, announced on Monday night that it would continue to support the government of Perikatan Nasional (PN) led by Muhyiddin.
This was after strong speculation that many UMNO members, including party chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, were behind the idea of supporting opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. The latter on October 13 claimed that he had a majority in terms of parliamentary support.
Shortly after the UMNO announcement, its coalition partner Parti Islam Se-Malaysia pledged “absolute loyalty” to the current prime minister.
In light of the developments, Anwar issued a statement Tuesday calling for a bipartisan effort for the 2021 budget, to be presented on November 6.
“In relation to the Budget 2021 that will be presented soon, both the government and the opposition must take a bipartisan approach in crafting a robust strategy to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and the pressing problem of unemployment and poverty.
“This (budget) should encompass the efforts and roles of the government and the opposition in designing powerful strategies to manage the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
Prime Minister Muhyiddin and UMNO President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi pose for a photo. (File photo: Bernama)
On the same day, PN Chief Information Officer and Chief Economy Minister Azmin Ali said Malaysian politicians should put aside their ideological differences to unite and fight the third wave of the COVID-19 outbreak to restore the economy.
The king has also urged the deputies to give a “solid support” to the next budget.
Here’s what the main opposition parties are saying in the run-up to next week’s budget presentation:
NO SUPPORT FOR MANTA, SAYS PKR VICE PRESIDENT
In an interview with CNA, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice President Xavier Jayakumar said that bipartisan support comes with its conditions.
“When Mr. Anwar spoke about bipartisan support, there were conditions. It is not a general support.
“We are going to hold a presidential council meeting tomorrow for Pakatan Harapan (PH) and then we will publish a statement on our demands for the 2021 Budget, on what we think is best. We can’t just give general support because we don’t know the content of the budget, ”he said Wednesday.
READ: Onus is in PM Muhyiddin to reach the opposition, says PKR head of communications on political stability
Dr. Jayakumar added that the party was unwilling to provide blind support.
“There has been no discussion (about the content of the 2021 budget) and we cannot go blind and support it. We have our demands and we will present them. If they (the government) agree, then we will see how we can work with the prime minister’s office.
“We are open to discussion subject to your agreement to consider our demands,” he said.
IT IS NECESSARY TO NEGOTIATE THE SUPPORT BIPARTISTS: ORGANIZING SECRETARY OF THE DAP
The Democratic Action Party (DAP) has also indicated that Anwar’s proposed bipartisan effort was not without strings attached.
Former Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke. (File photo: Bernama)
Organizing Secretary Anthony Loke told CNA that his party was ready to provide bipartisan support for the 2021 budget. However, he said the form and focus of the support has yet to be finalized.
“Sure we are prepared for bipartisan support, but what needs to be finalized is in what form and in what approach. That needs to be negotiated.
“Everyone should take a bipartisan position. If you look at the UMNO statement, ultimately they are also asking for bipartisan support. So they know that the opposition has 119 MPs and that a bipartisan approach is needed to make things happen. I don’t understand why anyone would say otherwise, ”Mr. Loke said.
READ: Malaysian Prime Minister Faces Calls to Resign After Failed Bid for Emergency Rule
He added that he did not want to anticipate the content of the 2021 budget, but emphasized that it was preferable to have discussions and negotiations.
Loke urged the prime minister to make contact with the opposition.
He said: “If we are willing to work on a bipartisan approach, we have 91 MPs in Pakatan Harapan alone. The UMNO as a whole only has 39 deputies and we know that they do not have a completely united front. But we leave that to them.
“We are very focused and have said over and over again that we are prepared to work with a bipartisan approach. So ask Mr. Muhyiddin to do the right thing as there is more urgency now after what happened last weekend. Just cease fire and seek a bipartisan solution. “
AMANAH TO CHAMPION OF THE PEOPLE’S INTERESTS
With COVID-19 hurting Malaysians’ economy and livelihoods, Parti Amanah Negara said she would work towards a people-centered budget.
Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad is the Strategic Director of Parti Amanah Negara. (File photo: Bernama)
The party’s strategic director, Dzulkefly Ahmad, told CNA that Amanah was waiting to present its 2021 budget suggestions to the PH coalition at a meeting scheduled on Thursday.
He said: “We hope to represent something through what we do as an opposition and present an alternative that is very focused on the post-COVID 19, which includes the management of the economy and finances. But everything must be subject to discussion.
“Of course we have always defended the interests of the people, particularly the lowest income group.”
After the pandemic, there should be an allocation for COVID-19 recovery, social protection, stimulating local investment and analyzing the disposable income of the lowest income group, he said.
READ: King of Malaysia rejects state of emergency proposal: What does this mean for the upcoming budget debate?
The former health minister said the focus of next year’s budget should be more than just bipartisan.
“It’s not so much about being bipartisan, it’s about making the right policies and changing the economy by having the right kinds of policies that are appropriate to stimulate growth. Inequality (in terms of income) at this point must be understood, ”he said.
