Pejuang willing to support budget, but no blank cheques
UPDATED 10.30PM | Pejuang, which has not been approved of its registration by the Registrar of Societies (ROS), is prepared to support Budget 2021 which will be tabled at the Dewan Rakyat on Nov 6.
Its chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, however, clarified that the party needs to study its content before all Pejuang MPs could do so...
UPDATED 10.30PM | Pejuang, which has not been approved of its registration by the Registrar of Societies (ROS), is prepared to support Budget 2021 which will be tabled at the Dewan Rakyat on Nov 6.
Its chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, however, clarified that the party needs to study its content before all Pejuang MPs could do so.
"We want to agree but we do not know what it is (content of the budget). Surely, we are not going to sign a blank cheque, we have to know what’s in the budget.
“As the text of the budget is thick and in two languages... we have to read it first,” he said in Langkawi last night.
Mahathir was met by reporters after a meeting with Langkawi Pejuang representatives in a hotel here.
The former prime minister was asked to comment on the call by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah who advised members of the Dewan Rakyat to give their undivided support to Budget 2021 for the well-being of the people and recovery of the country’s economy affected by Covid-19.
The Langkawi MP said it is the responsibility of each parliamentarian to study a document before making a decision to support it in Dewan Rakyat.
Commenting on the registration of Pejuang which has yet to be approved, Mahathir urged the ROS to state clearly what is needed by the department to confirm the registration of the party.
“Tell us what is incomplete, we will abide by the law, if we have infringed the law, we will amend accordingly,” he added.
In a separate statement, Pejaung reiterated Mahathir's position that it must look at the details of Budget 2021 before lending its support.
"We feel that giving support without looking at the details of the budget would be irresponsible.
"We want to make sure that the budget ensures people's wellbeing and jumpstart the economy.
"We have our views and ideas on how to assist in certain problems affecting the economy. This is not political but to fulfil our promises to the people," it said.
The statement was signed by Mahathir, Jerlun MP Mukhriz Mahathir, Kubang Pasu MP Amiruddin Hamzah and Sri Gading MP Shahruddin Md Salleh.
Simpang Renggam MP Maszlee Malik, who is part of Mahathir's grouping, was notably absent.
Muar MP Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman, who was also part of Mahathir's group, had already broken away from the group with his own youth-based initiative under Muda, although he remains friendly with them.
In the joint statement, the Pejuang MPs also welcomed Umno deputy president Mohamed Hasan's suggestion to allow Warisan a walkover in Batu Sapi to prevent a by-election during the pandemic.
They also accused the current ministers of failing in their duties and are instead engrossed about their political positions.
- Bernama
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