KUALA LUMPUR – The opposition’s behaviour during the Budget 2021 vote at the policy stage today is bizarre, said analysts, as its MPs did not back Datuk Seri Mahfuz Omar’s (PH-Pokok Sena) call for a physically tally.
The Budget, which has been heavily criticised by the Pakatan Harapan Plus coalition and independent Pejuang, was passed by only a voice vote, as only 13 MPs of the required 15 stood up in solidarity with the Amanah lawmaker.
Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Oh Ei Sun told The Vibes that through their action or lack thereof, opposition MPs have only hurt themselves.
“The much-criticised Budget passed the second reading under the most bizarre of circumstances, as the opposition seemed to deliberately not effectuate a scrutinised vote, but let it pass with a mere voice vote.
“And, the opposition’s reputation as a whole would be significantly weakened as it would be perceived as being not capable of even properly standing up to the government.”
Bowers Group Asia director Adib Zalkapli said PH Plus missed out on the opportunity to truly test MPs’ confidence in Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration.
However, he conceded that there is the possibility that the opposition realised Putrajaya had enough support to get the Budget approved.
Asked whether the reason for PH relenting to the Budget’s easy passage at the policy stage was because of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah’s call for all parliamentarians to back it, Adib said it is a possibility, while Oh sees it as a “kind interpretation”.
Oh said there are rumours of backroom deals being made to ensure the Muhyiddin administration survives this ordeal.
Such speculation could have an impact on opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s bid to become prime minister, he said.
“The opposition leader would have to properly explain his side’s reasoning for doing so (not demanding a physical tally), or he risks further eroding his own struggling credibility to claim the premiership, as speculation is rife that he has reached some backroom deals to accommodate the continued survival of the present government.”
The possibility of backroom dealings involving some PH components may hold water looking at today’s proceedings, as only Amanah was vocally against the Budget.
The party’s Shah Alam MP, Khalid Abdul Samad, continuously heckled Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and asked how many times he engaged with the opposition after tabling the Budget on November 6.
The minister did not respond to the line of query presented by Khalid, whose behaviour resulted in a shouting match between backbenchers and the opposition.
In a list that went viral after the Budget vote, it appears that of the 13 MPs who demanded a physical tally, all 11 of Amanah’s lawmakers backed Mahfuz. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (independent-Langkawi) and Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir (independent-Jerlun) are the other two.
Asked whether the Budget’s passage today signifies that Muhyiddin has solidified his position, both analysts agreed that he is safe, for now. – The Vibes, November 26, 2020
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