KUALA LUMPUR – Many people are uneasy with Budget 2021 because it is an effort to hand out money with no clear objective other than to shore up support, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed tonight.
During a television interview with Astro Awani, he said although the Budget can be approved tomorrow – it involves spending huge amounts of money to serve individuals and certain organisations – but the main problems that need solving are not given attention.
Dr Mahathir, however, said he and Pejuang cohorts could support the Budget if it meets certain conditions.
“There are some allocations to develop new offices when we need money to fight Covid-19. All expenses that are not urgent must be dropped and we will support it (Budget).
“We cannot support the Budget as if signing blank cheques, that’s not the way people’s representatives solve a problem.”
Dr Mahathir said Pejuang had listed 12 items that needed to be addressed.
On what could happen if the Budget was not passed, Dr Mahathir said there will be no severe consequences.
“The concerns raised that salaries (of civil servants) will not be paid are baseless threats. We have gone through this before and we have time to prepare if the budget is not approved (tomorrow).”
To address the current pandemic, Dr Mahathir said the Budget is imperative that people received free screenings.
He added that the people needed to be tested multiple times and this involves high costs for the government.
Same for the vaccines, he said it could be expensive, but needed to be administered to everyone.
“If we do not give it to the poor people, the rich will get it (Covid-19) too.”
“That is why I am of the opinion that putting RM3 billion (vaccine allocation) to solve the Covid-19 problem appears as though the government is disinterested. We have to take care of the whole of Malaysia and give vaccines to 32 million people.”
On the state of politics in the country, Dr Mahathir said the current government under Muhyiddin is “too weak” as the latter had the majority of only a few supporters in Parliament.
“If we are weak, we cannot carry out our duties well. When I was prime minister before, I had two-thirds (majority) behind me. But here (under Muhyiddin) there’s only one or two (supporters),” he said.
“If one (supporter) or a few others fall out (of favour), then it (the government) is done. It is these types of people (Muhyiddin) who would have to think about how they are going to stay in power, instead of addressing the needs of government or country.” – The Vibes, November 25, 2020
