GEORGE TOWN: Gerakan has urged all quarters to look into the shortcomings of the 2021 Budget and reach a consensus to produce one which will truly benefit everyone and put the country back on the track of recovery.
According to Gerakan vice-president Datuk Baljit Singh, all members of parliament (MPs) need to realise that their priority should be on the vulnerable segments of society, boosting the economy and kickstarting business activities again.
"The last thing they should be focusing on is trying to derail the government with the hopes that it will lead to the dissolution of Parliament to pave the way for a snap general election.
"It is about time everyone sits down to look into the shortcomings of the budget and reach a consensus," he said today, adding that much has been and is being said and debated about the 2021 Budget.
Elaborating, Baljit said the 2021 Budget was fast turning into one of the most controversial one ever tabled in the country's history.
He said there were many allocations for various agencies, organisations and purposes which had become contentious, and the talk of town, with everyone from the man-on-the-street to politicians giving their opinion on it.
He added that the proposed 2021 Budget had been debated in the ongoing Dewan Rakyat sitting, and from the proceedings, it was obvious the probability of it being passed remains in the balance.
"However, there have been calls for MPs from the opposing sides to put their differences aside and come up with a consensus to pass it during the parliamentary voting session, which is expected to be held on Nov 25.
"It is obvious that the consequences of the budget hitting a roadblock at this juncture cannot be understated. There is bound to be serious remifications on the country's political stability. This is something Malaysia can ill afford right now.
"As it is, people are already fed up with all the political shenanigans that have taken place in the past few months. All this happened even as we are facing the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, which is now in the third phase resulting in even more to be infected with more fatalities being recorded.