Budget vote : What to expect tomorrow

By Zaidi Isham Ismail
[email protected]

After 20 days, the rakyat will get to see how their elected representatives will behave tomorrow.

After much political wrangling, will the members of parliament (MPs) vote for or against Budget 2021?

What can the rakyat expect tomorrow? Fireworks? A resounding consensus? Let's visualize at some of the possible scenarios.

MPs will take turns to vote

Only 80 lawmakers will vote at any one time due to COVID-19.

So, not all of the 220 MPs will be in the August house to cast their votes.

There will only be 220 MPs out of the 222 due to the demise of two incumbents.

Out of the 222 seats, 112 are from Perikatan Nasional while 100 are from Pakatan Harapan, independent MPs (6) and Parti Sarawak Bersatu (2).

MPs would ask for more time

Don't be surprised if some MPs especially from Pakatan Harapan would ask for more time to study Budget 2021.

On Tuesday, several lawmakers asked for more time to study the budget also known as the Supply Bill 2021.

Naturally Dewan Rakyat speaker, Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun was not amused as the request was made at the last minute.

Despite Azhar's reprimand, a time extension of this bill is highly possible.

There will be vote abstentions

Due to the political differences, a few Yang Berhormats might abstain from voting.

Gua Musang MP, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah had already indicated that he will not attend the sitting tomorrow.

It is not known whether he intends to abstain.

If he does, it will not be surprising if others decide to follow suit.

Don't be surprised if a few MPs aligned with the government might abstain too let alone from Pakatan Harapan.

Conditional support

For the first time ever, Barisan Nasional had set a condition before it can agree to the budget.

BN backbenchers president, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said BN will only support the budget only if the government allows the rakyat to withdraw RM10,000 from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

Najib said the second condition is to extend the loan moratorium extension by another six months.

At this rate, it would not be surprising if BN sets another condition and another.

A walkout?

Don't be surprised is several parliamentarians walk out in protest of this bill.

This will be against the decree of Yang di-Pertuan Agong and will have disastrous consequences on the rakyat.

These are a few of the scenarios which might or might not unfold tomorrow.

There is a possibility that level heads might prevail or emotions might run high.

Whichever way, think of the rakyat Yang Berhormats.

The rakyat voted you in to take care of their welfare.

This is not the time to betray the rakyat.  -  DagangNews.com

The writer is former NST Business assistant editor