Umno Continues Posturing As Pn Down Three Votes On Budget 2021

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Umno is continuing its posturing over Budget 2021, amid a reduction of votes available from government lawmakers.
The Perikatan Nasional is down three MPs at the moment, giving it just 110 votes against the opposition's 108.
The reduction in votes is due to multiple factors, namely the death of Gerik MP Hasbullah Osman, Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin being under quarantine, and Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah abstaining from a vote.
The Malaysian Insight reported that Bung was placed back under quarantine after returning from Sabah, and will not be able to attend Parliament until the end of the month.
Keningau MP Jeffrey Kitingan, meanwhile, was also under quarantine after returning from Sabah.
However, he told Malaysiakini that his quarantine has ended and he is now back in Parliament.
Tengku Razaleigh, meanwhile, has been pushing for a vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.




Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah
The budget vote has been seen by some as a proxy for a confidence motion.
Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi said anything can happen this week, including the country having a new prime minister.
"All sorts of things can happen this week. The budget can be approved or rejected, a no-confidence vote, Parliament dissolves, Muhyiddin being the shortest-serving prime minister, and maybe there will be a new PM," he said on Facebook.
Puad, who is not an MP, said the government could be stable if there was political sincerity - referring to Umno's relationship with Muhyiddin's party Bersatu.
However, he said there are just too many backstabbing plans afoot.
"So this is the high price that Muhyiddin has to pay.
"Besides a failed 'emergency' attempt, (does) Muhyiddin need a miracle to save the PN government?" he asked.
Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said yesterday that Finance Minister Tengku Zafril Abdul Aziz has until Thursday to consider the party's demands for the supply bill.
These are regarding Employees Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawals and an automatic loan moratorium.
Elaborating on Twitter this morning, Ahmad said Zafrul (photo) should allow EPF Account 1 withdrawals for all active contributors.


Currently, only those who have lost their jobs, were given no-pay leave, or have no other source of income, can withdraw up to 10 percent from their Account 1.
Ahmad said those who have less than RM10,000 in their accounts should be allowed to withdraw up to 50 percent.

Meanwhile, the Pontian MP also said a six-month automatic loan moratorium should be extended to all those in the B40 and M40, as well as the T20 who have lost jobs.

Likewise, small and medium enterprises should also be given automatic loan moratoriums.
If the budget survives a vote this week, it is still not yet the end of the road.
Votes will be held during the committee stage of the bill's debate as well.
Usually, any effort to defeat the budget is only done during the policy stage, and the supply bill will pass through the committee stage with voice votes.
However, Pakatan Harapan had in 2017 mounted a surprise ambush during the committee stage, and narrowly lost by just one vote. 
Opposition MPs had previously told Malaysiakini that in the event Budget 2021 was not passed, Article 102 of the Federal Constitution could be invoked to table a separate bill to authorise essential spending.
Essential spending could include civil servant emoluments and healthcare expenses needed to battle the Covid-19 pandemic. - Mkini

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