Zafrul meets Harapan a second time on Budget 2022

Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz met Pakatan Harapan leaders for a second time yesterday on Budget 2022, which will be tabled in Parliament on Oct 29.

According to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, the engagement yesterday involved an in-depth discussion on the RM45 billion fiscal injection - a key component of the government deal with Harapan.

In the memorandum of understanding for Transformation and Stability between the government and Harapan, the RM45 billion fiscal injection is to be spent on cash handouts, health facilities and employment incentives, among others.

This, coupled with a temporary loan interest waiver for the poorest 50 percent of the population, will help support the people and businesses during the reopening of the economy.

“Harapan leaders will need to explain to the people that these benefits are a key part of the MOU from Harapan to save lives and livelihood, which were previously rejected by the government but now accepted as part of government policy,” Lim said in a statement.

Separately, Zafrul also said discussions with Harapan leaders involved improving the public health system, welfare, business sustainability and economic resilience.

“This dialogue is at the core of the preparation of a budget where the voice of the people will be heard as part of ‘Keluarga Malaysia’,” he said.

Zafrul and his deputy Shahar Abdullah were at the meeting.

Harapan was represented by Lim, Damansara MP Tony Pua, Subang MP Wong Chen, Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Kuala Selangor MP Dr Dzukefly Ahmad, Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran and Merbok MP Nor Azrina Surip.

Under the MOU, the federal government is obliged to consult Harapan on feedback for Budget 2022. In return, Harapan will ensure that Budget 2022 is passed.

Apart from Budget 2022, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob also pledged to perform a long list of parliamentary and administrative reforms. In return, Harapan promised not to topple the government through Parliament.

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