Huge national repercussions if Budget 2021 not passed, academicians say

KUALA LUMPUR — If the Budget 2021 tabled in the Dewan Rakyat is not approved, it could cause uncertainty in the context of national and social security, according to constitutional expert Prof Dr Shamrahayu A. Aziz.

The UiTM incumbent of the Institution of Malay Rulers Chair said, if the Supply Bill 2021 was not passed, the implications would be huge, serious and dangerous.

She said the government could not use the country's treasury money and would have a huge impact on the people, especially civil servants and the private sector who are linked to the government such as contractors.

"If it is not approved then there is a problem for the government to carry out the administration of the country, issue payments to civil servants and development-related efforts as well as funds to address the Covid-19 pandemic and to restore the economic situation," she said in the ‘Malaysia Petang Ini’ programme, on Bernama TV yesterday.

Shamrahayu hopes that all members of parliament could compromise and be tolerant to ensure that the budget is passed for the benefit and well-being of the people and the country.

"Imagine if civil servants do not have salaries, of course, the implications are bigger, than what is argued among the parliamentarians who do not want to support this bill.

"We need to pass this bill to balance the economic impact on Malaysians, especially civil servants despite the demands by MPs who have voiced their views not to support this bill," she said.

Recently, the media reported the possibility of Budget 2021 not being approved after Barisan Nasional (BN) and the opposition submitted several demands as conditional support to the Budget 2021 tabled by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government on November 6.

Among the demands are to allow the withdrawal of savings up to RM10,000 from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Account 1 and the extension of the moratorium on loans of financial institutions apart from disputing the proposal to reinstate the Special Affairs Department (JASA) with a large allocation. — Bernama, November 19, 2020