Anwar: Govt rushing budget to set stage for GE15

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said the government is rushing Budget 2023, based on a lack of consultation with Pakatan Harapan which he said was the norm over the last few years.

This, he said in a video posted to Facebook, is a sign Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob faces immense pressure from his party Umno and an indication the 15th general election (GE15) is near.

“Generally in the past two or so years, there would be consultations with Harapan during the process of preparing the budget, based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU signed between Harapan and Ismail Sabri).

“Namely on taxes, expenditure, transparency, and accountability.

“This has not happened, which means they rushed into this decision. It is assumed this was done to allow the prime minister to determine election dates,” Anwar said in the video.

He said this proves the country needs a stable government with a clear mandate to focus on good governance and eliminating corruption.

The rushed budget risks overlooking certain issues, he said, which include the rising cost of living, education reforms, improving health facilities, digitalisation, and climate change, seeing as the nation faces floods several times a year now.

“Unfortunately, a weak administration like the one that exists now, is due to figures who are afraid of facing prosecution in court. (They are) unlikely to help solve the problems of the people, especially the rising cost of living.

“We hope the people will stand up together and demand comprehensive change and reform,” he said.

Budget 2023 brought forward

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar confirmed Budget 2023 will be presented in the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 7.

However, he denied any link between the budget’s change of date with the next general election.

GE15 is speculated to be held this year as Umno has been mounting pressure on Ismail Sabri for a snap poll.

The next parliamentary sitting was initially slated to be held between Oct 28 and Dec 15 where Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz would table Budget 2023 on Oct 28.

In a statement issued later, Wan Junaidi said the cabinet proposed the dates be shifted 23 days earlier than before, which would have been from Oct 3 until Nov 29 (32 days).

Last week, Wan Junaidi indicated the next general election is likely to be called only after the tabling of the federal budget in Parliament.

“Once the budget is passed and the people felt its benefits, then it would be the right time to dissolve Parliament,” he had said.

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