KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition lawmakers have "disrespected the people" by walking out of the Dewan Rakyat during the tabling of the 2017 Budget, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
On his Twitter, Najib said the tabling of the budget was about the people's welfare, but the opposition members had left the lower house instead.
"Opposition disrespected the people by walking out when Budget tabled for debate.
"We talked about welfare, but they turned their backs," he said via his Twitter handle @NajibRazak, today.
Najib, who is also Finance Minister, was midway through his 2017 Budget speech yesterday when a majority of opposition MPs staged a walkout.
It started when Najib took a swipe at allegations that the budget was of no substance and that the government had insufficient funds to work with.
"Now, who is without substance? Where did the storm originate? Who is the one putting up a show?" he reportedly said.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia tried to restore order but the MPs refused to back down, resulting in Pandikar ordering them out of the Dewan Rakyat.