KUALA LUMPUR – DAP Youth has demanded that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim apologise to the public and his Pakatan Harapan allies over his last-minute directive to opposition MPs that led to Budget 2021 being passed at the policy stage yesterday.
The wing’s national secretary, Eric Teh Hoong Keat, in a statement tonight said if the opposition leader and PKR president fails to do so, it is time for DAP to consider parting ways with PKR and reshuffle the opposition bloc.
“Anwar has admitted that he ordered DAP and PKR to reject the bloc voting request for Budget 2021. So, he has to take full responsibility and apologise for his mistake to PH supporters.
“He had the opportunity to rekindle the spirit of PH in Parliament, but yesterday, he failed. This has caused a public relations crisis, shattered PH’s credibility, and extinguished the fire of reform among the people.”
The Budget was passed at the policy stage through a voice vote after the opposition failed to get the 15 MPs required to stand up and trigger bloc voting.
Anwar today reiterated that the Budget will still be debated at the committee stage on Monday.
To this, Teh said: “This is an irresponsible explanation. The second reading is where MPs state their stand, based on principles. If the Budget is rejected in the second reading, then there is no need for a third reading.
“How are we going to convince our supporters that we will be serious in the next stage (third reading)? If a bloc vote can be done in the third reading, then why can’t it be done in the second reading?”
He said DAP, as the party with the most seats in the Dewan Rakyat, should not repeatedly compromise its core ideologies under the guise of the “big picture”.
“I believe that DAP should contest using our own party logo in future elections. I suggest that we negotiate with others and part of any ruling coalition after the elections.
“This is the only way to prevent DAP from being manipulated by other parties.” – The Vibes, November 27, 2020
