KUALA LUMPUR – The Perikatan Nasional (PN) government’s Budget 2021 is not in the spirit of the national interest as previously decreed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, said Pejuang.
In today’s joint statement by its four parliamentarians, the party said it is unfortunate that the government is seen to be acting insincerely despite the Agong’s concern that the national budget may be rejected in Parliament.
“The government is using the Agong’s decree as a ‘blank cheque’ to include several elements into the budget that lead towards political gains while putting aside the public interest,” said the party.
“An allocation that big for the Special Affairs Department (Jasa) propaganda arm is one clear sign that the government is putting its political interest over the people.”
The statement was jointly signed by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Langkawi), Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir (Jerlun), Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah (Kubang Pasu), and Datuk Shahruddin Md Salleh (Sri Gading).
The lawmakers said the party is now in a dilemma whether to support the budget when it comes up for a vote.
“If we support the budget, we feel that we will be neglecting the public interest because the budget is rather populist, without taking into account the rakyat and the economy.
“If we do not support it, we will be accused of politicking amid the Covid-19 pandemic and of disobeying the Agong,” it said.
The four MPs said they hope the government will consider all opinions and feedback from the various stakeholders and make the necessary changes to the budget, or even remove certain aspects deemed useless.
“If this can be done, then we are ready to give our support to Budget 2021,” it said. – The Vibes, November 9, 2020
