By Adrian Lim
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15: The Dewan Rakyat has passed Budget 2021 after its third reading today with 111 Members of Parliament (MP) voting for and 108 against.
One MP was absent from voting.
Despite two attempts by opposition MPs to call for bloc voting, they failed to garner the minimum of 15 MPs required to do so.
The passing of Budget 2021 signalled that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government led by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has the majority support of the House.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong via a Facebook post revealed from the policy stage on November 26 until the committee stage starting from November 30, the budget for all 27 ministries have been passed.
He noted that the budget for nine out of the 27 ministries had to be decided based on bloc voting.
“When voting during the second reading of Budget 2021, the opposition failed to garner the 15 MPs needed for bloc voting.
“Thus, they have been heavily criticised for not doing what they have said (they would do).
“We all know that the opposition wants to recapture power since the downfall of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government on February 24, 2020 following the resignation of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“When PH creates (sic) the political conflict which affects the political stability of the country, Barisan Nasional (BN), Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (Pas) and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) all wanted the general election to be held at that time after Tun Mahathir resigns (sic).
“But we agreed with the wisdom of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, (Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah) to choose a (sic) MP who has the majority support to be the prime minister without going through an election.
“Therefore, there should not be any doubts for the general election to be held now.
“Be patient, when the time comes the 15th general election will be held,” Wee added. — DayakDaily
