YOURSAY | ‘Thus, the opposition’s request to discuss the Budget prior to its tabling is fair and appropriate.’

Harapan urges PM to discuss Budget 2021 with opposition

Kit Siang: Govt should not expect 'blank cheque' on Budget 2021 support

IndigoTrout2522: Having a Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting to discuss issues such as Budget 2021 is important.

After that, there should be only one voice representing the coalition. Harapan must continue to voice out and not allow itself to look like a bunch of confused and naive leaders.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s advice is for all parties and not just the opposition. It is the role of the opposition MPs to scrutinise the Budget and all bills, and make changes as appropriate.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin also has to reach out to the opposition leaders to discuss and compromise on the Budget. If he did not, and the Budget is not in the interest of the rakyat, the opposition MPs then have a constitutional responsibility to vote against it.

OrangeViper2887: I agree. I think the legitimacy of Muhyiddin and Perikatan Nasional (PN) to govern should be established first. Then, the Budget debate. Thus, a ‘no confidence’ or even a ‘confidence motion’ should be debated and voted on as a priority.

If PN has no majority support, then it is wrong to give them a blank cheque to the Treasury again. The wild propaganda as if the king has instructed the MPs to pass the Budget without any regard to the parliamentary process need to be questioned.

The intent of Agong’s statement shall evolve around his position as a constitutional monarch. We need to clarify the interpretation wildly circulated. I am sure the parliamentarians will take note of it and act upon it promptly.

Malaysia Bharu: While the Agong has advised the MPs to enable the passing Budget 2021 in Parliament, he has also mentioned the need for check and balance. Thus, the request by the opposition to discuss the Budget is fair and appropriate.

There is not much time left and Muhyiddin must respond swiftly unless he has any reservations.

As the Agong's advice is outside the norms or unprecedented, it is the opposition's responsibility to ensure that the Budget 2021 is viable and addresses the nation's needs and people's aspirations in this pandemic environment. The ball is in Muhyiddin's court.

Raja Chulan: The Agong had given his advice, or perhaps his opinion. It’s a little odd in a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy setting such as Malaysia.

As @Malaysia Bharu said, unprecedented. The MPs, however, have their responsibilities to their respective constituents and political parties. They have to carry out those responsibilities well irrespective of the urging from anyone, including the Agong. Everyone must follow our Constitution and the rule of law strictly.

As for Muhyiddin, I think it is very unlikely he will discuss the Budget with the opposition before it is presented in Parliament. The present problem he is having with his own PN component parties is precisely that, of not discussing many matters with them.

Muhyiddin has proven himself as high handed. It will be highly unrealistic for opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, PKR, Amanah and DAP to expect Muhyiddin to discuss the Budget with them.

Headhunter: Yes, the government should not expect a ‘blank cheque’ as stated by DAP leader Lim Kit Siang. The opposition should take this opportunity to forge for a fairer distribution of the Budget to all elected members, including those in the opposition.

After all, they are all elected by the rakyat to represent them and they all pay taxes. It's time to address the inequality where opposition members are deprived of development fund for their constituencies.

The government should behave like a democratic institution and not like mafia protecting its own turf.

YellowCarp2301: Indeed, Muhyiddin has to heed the Agong's call to immediately discuss and negotiate with the opposition on the contents of Budget 2021 before it is tabled at Parliament this Friday, so that it achieves the objectives as stated by His Majesty.

The Agong has advised all MPs to support the Budget for the wellbeing of the people and called on lawmakers to put an end to political squabbling.

The king has opened the door for all parties for negotiation, the opposition has swiftly responded to His Majesty's advice and called upon the prime minister to start discussions on the proposed Budget, and the people are waiting for Muhyiddin to reciprocate.

OceanMaster: The world economy is ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic. On top of this, the Malaysian economy relies on the export of commodities and manufactured goods. The oil and gas sector is one of the biggest revenue generators, but oil prices are lowest in decades.

With no clear end to the pandemic nor the oil price nor global economic recovery, 2021 is going to be one of the worst economic wash-out scenarios we might experience in our lifetime.

Tens of thousands are going to be unemployed in Malaysia. To top this, the hardest hit is going to be the "free-agents" and the self-employed who live on daily wages.

To make matters as worst as it can get, the Sheraton Move, initiated by a few greedy and racist politicians at the onset of the pandemic, resulted in an extremely weak and unstable backdoor government. The nation's political, economic and social foundation is extremely shaky.

There need to be two parts to the Budget - a pandemic response Budget, that safeguards the people from the pandemic fallout and a Budget that reflects the social reform that the nation so much requires at this juncture.

The first part of the Budget, as a strategic pandemic response, requires a strong bipartisan approach and good statesmanship from all parties to hammer out stimulus packages.

The second part of the Budget is a lot more polarised. With Harapan, the philosophy is an equitable position for all, but for PN, and its components, it’s all about hegemony.

With Muhyiddin and his little Napoleons caught between a rock and the hard place, it’s going to be a dishing out money and positions frenzy to hold to power. I doubt, when dishing out is the order of the day by PN, Harapan is going to make any inroads to influence the outcome.

Now you know why a new government is so badly needed.

YOURSAY | Budget 2021 – will govt cut our super-sized cabinet?

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