Budget 2023 not a manifesto, nor done in vain - KJ

Budget 2023 which was tabled in Parliament last Friday (Oct 7) should not be perceived as an election manifesto, nor was it done in vain, said incumbent Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said caretaker Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is committed to tabling the budget in the Dewan Rakyat again, should he receive the people’s mandate after the upcoming general election.

“I don’t think it was pointless. The people know that it will be brought back by Ismail Sabri as BN’s prime minister candidate if he gets the mandate from the people,” he said during the launch of a book titled ‘An Overview of Disaster Life Support in Disaster Management’ at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.

“Everything that was in the presentation by the finance minister is the expenditure that has been allocated.

“It’s not a manifesto based on mere promises, that’s the difference between a budget and a manifesto,” Khairy added.

Earlier today, Perikatan Nasional (PN) information chief Azmin Ali said the tabling of Budget 2023 was a pointless waste of manpower and time.

He said PN, on the other hand, has always believed that full attention should be given to the revitalisation of the economy.

Health measures for floods, polls

Khairy said the Health Ministry will be assigning 11,085 public health personnel to help flood victims at temporary relief centres (PPS) nationwide.

He said this measure is taken as an effort to provide the best health services to flood victims.

“Based on data collected from the state Health Department, 552 out of 2,891 health facilities are at risk of experiencing flood disasters.

“You may remember the worst flood that hit Kelantan and the country in 2014 where the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital, Kuala Krai Hospital and most of the health facilities were inundated for quite a long time,” he added.

Khairy assured special arrangements will also be made during GE15 to ensure a Covid-19 safe election so voters who test positive or who are under home surveillance can cast their votes.

He said the Health Ministry had made several recommendations to the Election Commission (EC) and the commission will be making an announcement about the new standard operating procedures (SOP) in the near future.

“This is so more relaxation can be given to voters this election. This was not allowed during the Johor state polls before this.”

He added that voters who test positive for Covid-19 should be allowed to vote as it is their right as citizens.

“Some of the SOP will allow Covid-19 positive voters who are observing home surveillance to come out to vote and it includes setting up a special pathway and different polling stations for them.

“They will also be required to wear a face mask throughout the entire procedure until they are done voting.”

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