fbpx
Connect with us

News

Tun M Asks Finance Minister To Stop Threatening MPs To Approve Budget 2021

Published

Pjimage 2020 11 20T122920.204
Source: The Straits Times & Utusan

Follow us on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest stories and updates daily.

It seems like the debate surrounding the Budget 2021 is not over with MPs speaking up against the alleged misappropriation of funds in the Dewan Rakyat daily. However, Finance Minister, Tengku Zafrul Aziz, has said that government commitments such as the salaries of civil servants and frontliners who have sacrificed their lives to fight during this pandemic cannot be paid if Budget 2021 is not approved by the Dewan Rakyat.

In response to this, former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, released a statement today (20 November) ridiculing the Finance Minister’s statement and requested the government leaders to stop releasing baseless statements.

St 20180205 Fdmahathir 3739568

“I hope that the Finance Minister and the Government leaders who are in the throes of losing power will stop issuing baseless statements, which intimidate the people solely for their political survival.”

In his statement, he added that there’s no logical proof that the frontliners’ salary cannot be paid if the budget isn’t approved. In fact, he said when he was the Prime Minister in 1999, the Budget 2000 which was presented in October 1999 was not approved as the Parliament was abolished in November 1999 for the tenth General Election.

Once the elections were over, the government with a new mandate got Dewan Rakyat’s approval for an initial allocation for government expenditures which was used for the next three months while waiting for the Budget 2000 which was presented in February of that year.

Tengku 1

Tengku zafrul presenting the budget 2021.

The early allocation was to make sure administrative expenditures weren’t affected including salaries, allowances and pensions for government employees. This allocation was also for Ministries to make sure the people’s lives aren’t affected.

“In this context, it was incredibly irresponsible of the Finance Minister to give a statement that sounded like a threat to pressure other Parliament members to approve the Budget 2021!”

Tun Dr Mahathir said this will inadvertently stop Parliament members from carrying out their duties of seeing if the budget is actually what’s best for the rakyat and NOT the ruling party. If solely based on the Finance Minister’s statement and the budget is rejected, the people are the ones who are going to suffer.

“If this is what Tengku Zafrul and the Government leaders want, then the Parliament members will just have to issue a “blank cheque” blindly and approve the budget despite the clear flaws,” he said.

What do you think of this statement by the former Prime Minister?

 

Also read: Finance Minister: No Salaries For Frontliners & Civil Servants If Budget 2021 Not Approved

Page 46

Follow us on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest stories and updates daily.



Just In

Collage 89 Collage 89
News10 hours ago

Johor Government May Implement a 4.5-Day Workweek in the Near Future

A 4-day workweek sounds ideal, but a 4-and-a-half day workweek doesn’t sound bad either. Johoreans may be in luck next...

My Post 1 2024 11 21T160023.537 My Post 1 2024 11 21T160023.537
News11 hours ago

“UPSR get D, SPM can get A” – PMX Responds to BERSIH Giving Him a Grade D in ‘Report Card’

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has opened up about BERSIH’s ‘report card‘ on his administration’s performance in conjunction with...

My Post 1 2024 11 21T114442.032 1 My Post 1 2024 11 21T114442.032 1
News15 hours ago

PDRM is Offering 60% Off Selected Traffic Summons at Govt’s 2nd Anniversary Event This Weekend!

In conjunction with the MADANI government’s 2nd anniversary on 24 November (Sunday), the Ministry of Home Affairs of Malaysia (KDN)...

Collage 17 1 Collage 17 1
News1 day ago

MCPF Calls for Vape Ban, Warns Addiction to Substances Can Lead to Unhealthy Behaviours Like Theft

The Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) is urging for the sale of e-cigarettes or vape devices to be banned or...

Feat Image Lesen Feat Image Lesen
News1 day ago

Anthony Loke: Road Users in M’sia May Have to Pay for Physical Driving License Cards Starting Next Year

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook today iterated that the Government will continue with the implementation of digital driving licenses...

Collage 15 2 Collage 15 2
News1 day ago

Filipino Couple Caught Living & Working Illegally in Malaysia Using Fake MyKads That Cost RM250 Each

A Filipino husband and wife were arrested during a raid on November 19 at a house in Pandan Indah yesterday...

Feat Image Apple Ind Feat Image Apple Ind
News1 day ago

Apple Offers to Increase Investment in Indonesia Tenfold to RM446 Million to Lift Country’s iPhone 16 Series Ban

Previously, we shared how the Apple iPhone 16 Series is banned from being sold in Indonesia until the tech giant...

My Post 1 2024 11 20T144359.263 My Post 1 2024 11 20T144359.263
News1 day ago

BERSIH Names Ismail Sabri the Best PM Since 2009, Calls Out PMX for Lack of Urgency with Reforms

In conjunction with the upcoming 2nd anniversary (24 November) of Anwar Ibrahim’s administration, The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections,...

Announcement

Latest Videos



TRENDING TODAY