KUALA LUMPUR – While there is nothing unusual with the government’s decision to bring forward the tabling of Budget 2023, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said it is a telling sign that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is under immense pressure from Umno.
Anwar said Ismail Sabri is “powerless” and that his “strings” are being pulled by Umno.
“He has the authority to do so (bring forward the budget tabling) and it is nothing strange in our system.
“But the truth is, it’s an open secret that he is facing immense pressure from the Umno leadership,” the Pakatan Harapan (PH) and PKR president said in a video uploaded on his official Facebook page today,
“We have a prime minister who does not have the power to decide but is at the Umno top brass’ beck and call.”
Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar confirmed that the budget tabling is set to take place on October 7, contrary to October 28 as scheduled earlier.
Speculation on when the 15th general election will be held has been rife since.
On the budget, Anwar said it has been a practice for the past two years that the government would consult PH to discuss several main issues like taxation, expenses, transparency and accountability.
However, the Port Dickson MP said no such discussions have taken place to date for Budget 2023.
“It hasn’t started and this means they are in a hurry to implement the budget.
“It is assumed that the brought-forward budget tabling is done to give room to the prime minister to determine when the general election will be held.”
Ismail Sabri is an Umno vice-president and has been urged several times by party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to hold an early general election.
Anwar added that PH is ready to head to war sooner than expected, as its election machinery is ready.
He also said Ismail Sabri “sways” to the likings of certain quarters in Umno, and that a stronger mandate is needed to replace the Bera lawmaker’s poor leadership.
A stable government with a clear mandate, which puts emphasis on combating corruption, public reform and flood problems, among other important issues, is very much needed to replace Ismail Sabri’s Barisan Nasional administration, Anwar added – The Vibes, August 27, 2022
