KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad believes the government could easily walk away victorious if a general election is held tomorrow, going by the Budget 2022 announcement last Friday.
Debating the Supply Bill (2022), the Langkawi MP said this is considering the increased funding being given to various segments of society.
“I listened for an hour about how the government will be spending so much money on everyone. I did not wait until the end of the Budget tabling, but (I understand) no one was left behind. Everybody got an increased allocation.
“The next day, newspapers portrayed the faces of Malaysians with smiles on them. I believe if the election was held tomorrow, the government parties would win big,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.
However, Dr Mahathir said despite the RM322.5 billion Budget being the largest in history, not much attention was given on revenue, with only RM234 billion expected to be collected throughout next year, over RM88 billion short of spending.
He questioned if this will be covered through more loans, warning this is not the best way forward, seeing that the country is already more than RM1 trillion in debt.
Dr Mahathir said while he understands the need to spend more to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and address the economy, the government also needs to show interest in recovering funds that have been misappropriated.
“The government needs to be cautious so that our spending can be reduced and our debt will not be passed onto future generations.
“It is easy to have a Budget that is well-liked, and yes, our debt (to GDP ratio) can be reduced by increasing the statutory debt limit. But the amount we are in debt cannot be reduced. This must be paid.”
Dr Mahathir said although the twin health and economic crises need an extraordinary Budget, the government must also be responsible in not further burdening the country.
“I hope the government will revise Budget 2022. We don’t need to be proud about announcing the biggest Budget in history. It will also lead us to fall further in debt,” he said.
On a separate matter, Dr Mahathir bemoaned the fact that leaders who have been found guilty of corruption by the court are still allowed to remain at large, when ordinary citizens who have yet to be charged are put behind bars.
Without mentioning names, he was most likely referring to Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who was found guilty of multiple charges of graft related to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal in July last year, and was sentenced to 12 years in prison, which he is currently appealing.
“As long as he is not found innocent, he is guilty and should be punished. Why isn’t he punished, and even allowed to go overseas?
“If the appeal finds him not guilty, then release him. But it has been one year since he filed his appeal, and there is still no verdict. Justice delayed is justice denied.” – The Vibes, November 2, 2021
With Budget 2022, govt would win GE15 if held tomorrow: Dr Mahathir
Former PM, however, warns it could lead Malaysia further into debt
Updated 4 years ago · Published on 02 Nov 2021 4:50PM
