By Zareef Muzammil
SUBANG JAYA, Oct 3 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) will consider supporting the 2023 Budget that will be presented in the Dewan Rakyat this Friday.
PH president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the current government is accused of not being transparent in several important matters.
“We are studying (to support or reject the 2023 Budget). We want to emphasise the issues of government management and corruption.
“(This includes) non-transparent projects such as the problems of purchasing medicines including vaccines, the Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) contract regarding 5G, which until today has not been transparent,” he said.
The oppositional leader was met by the press after the launch of the book ‘SCRIPT – For A Better Malaysia’ at Dorsett Grand Subang Hotel yesterday.
In addition, Anwar is determined to bring a motion to deal with the increase in living cost during the Parliament session.
He said proposals related to chicken prices would also be submitted if Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob refuses to do so.
“(If) the prime minister doesn’t want to, I will bring a motion regarding the living cost and the fall of our currency that is burdening the people.
“I will also discuss the chicken prices,” he told reporters after the book launch yesterday.
On September 27, Anwar urged the government to raise a special motion to deal with the crisis of rising commodity prices and the fall of the national currency which is affecting people’s lives.
He informed that he had sent a letter asking Ismail Sabri as the leader of Dewan Rakyat to take immediate action in dealing with the crisis.
The Port Dickson Member of Parliament also suggested that the issue be given priority and to be discussed in the first week of the Parliament session.
The Third Meeting of the Fifth Parliament is scheduled to convene for 32 days starting tomorrow until November 29 with the presentation of the 2023 Budget being the main focus.
According to the Parliament’s website, the 2023 Supply Bill (Budget) will be presented by the Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Azis at 4pm, on October 7.
Based on the Political Transformation and Stability Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on September 13 last year, PH agreed to support or remain neutral in the process of approving any government proposals or bills.
The failure of a motion or bill to be approved is seen as a form of distrust or lack of confidence in the government.
However, the condition is subject to the fulfilment and implementation of the transformation agreed in the MoU, in addition to the motions and bills presented by the government that are required to be negotiated and mutually agreed upon between the two parties.
