KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said that the Perikatan Nasional government’s law allowing the prime minister to disburse public funds without parliamentary oversight may cause further erosion of confidence in Malaysia’s economy.
“I strongly oppose this law and I believe it is unethical and irresponsible.
“I am concerned about the impact on the nation’s reputation and the further erosion of confidence in our economy,” the opposition leader tweeted on his official account.
Anwar said there is no reason for the government to seek such extraordinary fiduciary powers at this time.
“Budget 2021 was passed less than four months ago, which allocated adequate spending for (the country’s) Covid-19 response.
“Any valid additional spending would be approved in Parliament by a majority and would likely gain bipartisan support if it was deemed appropriate,” he said.
He added the new law laid bare the motives of the government’s desire for a state of emergency.
“While Perikatan Nasional states the emergency is necessary to battle Covid, in fact, the laws that are being enacted under the emergency have little to do with Covid and are mostly about punishing civil society, suppressing free speech and pilfering the public coffers.
“Once again, I call for the immediate resumption of Parliament to prevent the further evisceration of Malaysia’s democracy.” – The Vibes, March 31, 2021
