BERA – The essence of Budget 2023, which was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on October 7, will become the Barisan Nasional (BN) manifesto, taking into account that the budget is based on the actual global situation, said Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The caretaker prime minister said that the essence of the largest budget ever prepared, amounting to RM372.3 billion, also covers all sectors and that the government has sufficient allocations to implement it.
Ismail Sabri said the fact that some parties want to copy its essence indicates that it is a good and comprehensive budget.
“Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had made various comments about the government earlier but now we have presented a good budget, he wants to plagiarise the budget presented by the Keluarga Malaysia government under my leadership,” he said.
Ismail Sabri said this at a press conference after attending a People’s Feast with the Felda Sebertak community at Felda Sebertak Dewan Orang Ramai here today, which was also attended by BN’s candidate for the Guai state seat, Khairulnizam Mohamad Zuldin.
He was commenting on the statement by Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin, who reportedly assured when announcing the PN manifesto yesterday that all Budget 2023 initiatives, including aid to the people and civil servants, will be improved on and implemented.
In another development, Ismail Sabri also denied allegations by Muhyiddin that he reportedly rejected Muhyiddin’s request for a special moratorium to be granted to the micro, small and medium enterprises group.
He said the government is always sensitive to the group’s needs, and that the group will benefit from Budget 2023 initiatives such as a one-off grant of RM1,000 with an allocation of RM1 billion, apart from funds for loans to develop businesses under the National Entrepreneur Group Economic Fund.
“The loan is still there, so it doesn’t solve the problem. Instead, we help them expand their businesses... where there is no capital, we will give new loans.
“I did not reject (the moratorium application) but asked the Finance Ministry to study the matter,” he said in his campaign to defend the Bera parliamentary seat he has been holding since 2004 in the 15th general election. – Bernama, November 7, 2022
