[UPDATED] Amanah MPs reject Budget 2021: Mat Sabu

KUALA LUMPUR – Amanah president Mohamad Sabu today said all lawmakers in the party will reject Budget 2021, reported Astro Awani.

The Kota Raja MP, speaking at an event in Kota Baru, said this is in line with the decision made by the Pakatan Harapan leadership.

“The opposition leader (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has already stated that if we are to support (the budget bill), there are a few things to be amended.

“We (Amanah) have spoken, Pejuang has spoken, Umno has spoken... about amending the bill for it to get our support. We are with PH (in not supporting the bill).”

There are 11 MPs in Amanah, including former Federal Territories minister Khalid Abdul Samad (Shah Alam) and former health minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor).

The budget bill is slated to be voted on by month-end.

When contacted by The Vibes, Amanah strategic director Dr Dzulkefly reiterated that Mohamad has been consistent and that PH leaders are on the same page with regard to conditional support for Perikatan Nasional’s Budget.

“Mat Sabu is just paraphrasing what we have said all along about getting the PN government to make sure that there are allocations for the things that we asked for. 

“He didn’t say it out of his own opinion. We are all on the same page about giving conditional support... a condition to them (PN) to make the amendments.

“One of it is, of course, to extend the loan moratorium for six months if possible, and to withdraw Jasa’s (Special Affairs Department) allocation of RM85.5 million.”

He said PN leaders must take seriously the suggestions brought up during the consultation if they are seeking support for the budget bill from across the aisle.

“We had a caucus with the finance minister, and they (PN) did not really (take our suggestions into account). They are just doing it for show. 

“If they are serious about getting our support, they must also be serious about our suggestions on the allocations in the Budget.” – The Vibes, November 13, 2020