KUALA LUMPUR: The Supply Bill 2023 has been tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat today.
The 2023 Budget bill was tabled by Deputy Finance Minister I Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah.
"The second reading of the bill will be done on Friday, Oct 7, 2022," he told the House.
Previously, it was reported that Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz would table the 2023 Budget this Friday.
Since last week, rumour has been rife that the government may not table the 2023 Budget as planned to pave way for the 15th general election.
However, neither Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob nor his ministers have indicated that the budget is either cancelled or postponed.
Yesterday, Minister in Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar told reporters that as far as he was concerned, the 2023 Budget would go ahead as scheduled.
"As I said before, I met the Prime Minister on (Sunday) night and I was the last person to see him, so that was around 10.30pm. As of that time, the plan (to table the budget on Friday) remains.
"Many MPs had asked me about this rumour today (Tuesday) but I told them that I have no new information. The Prime Minister or other ministers did not say that the budget will be postponed or cancelled.
"I don't have that information. All I know is that the budget will be tabled as scheduled but otherwise, you should perhaps ask the Prime Minister or the Finance Minister."