KUALA LUMPUR – The government can use Article 102(a) of the federal constitution to partially approve Budget 2023 and ensure the continuity of its programmes next year, said Finance Ministry deputy secretary-general (policy) Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican.
“Budget 2023 needs to be re-tabled to ensure that the government continues to operate come January 2023.
“One thing that we should highlight is that there was a precedent in 1999 when Parliament was dissolved before the budget was fully debated and approved,” he said.
“Article 102(a) of our federal constitution enables us to get approval for the first part of the budget for (development) expenditure to continue, while the full budget can get approved later,” he said on the sidelines of the Securities Industry Development Corporation Business Foresight Forum 2022 today.
Article 102(a) of the federal constitution states that Parliament shall have power, in respect of any financial year before the passing of the Supply Bill, to authorise by law expenditure for a part of the year.
Malaysia’s RM372.3 billion Budget 2023 was tabled by Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Aziz in Parliament on October 7, 2022.
Parliament was dissolved on October 10, 2022, to pave the way for the 15th general election. – Bernama, October 19, 2022
