KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak concedes that Budget demands made by Barisan Nasional (BN) were not satisfied in full, but said opposing the budget is not the right move.
Najib said in a Facebook post last night that with only two weeks left before the New Year, a failure to pass the Budget will make it difficult for the government to function.
Yesterday, the Budget 2021 passed its third reading in the Dewan Rakyat with a division vote.
A total of 111 MPs voted for the Budget and 108 rejected it, following a bloc vote called by several opposition lawmakers. One MP was absent.
Najib reiterated that the coalition’s demands included automatic loan moratorium extensions and RM10,000 Employees Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawals for contributors.
“With regards to the withdrawal from EPF Account 1, we must remember that we were given nothing before Budget 2021, now eight million contributors are able to make withdrawals.”
On November 26, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz announced that EPF contributors could withdraw up to RM10,000 from their EPF Account 1.
On November 17, EPF CEO Tunku Alizakri Raja Muhammad Alias announced that contributors will have access to 10% of their savings in Account 1. However, this will only benefit two million contributors who have not made contributions in two months.
Najib, who is Pekan MP, said BN will continue to demand that the Perikatan Nasional government keeps its promises.
“If our demands are not satisfied and we feel cheated, BN still has the opportunity to do something.” – The Vibes, December 16, 2020
