Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said good debt management would be maintained to ensure the fiscal position and macroeconomy remained strong for managing any crisis.
KUALA LUMPUR: Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng sought a "guarantee" from the Opposition not to scuttle Pakatan Harapan’s bid to reintroduce the Sales and Service Tax (SST) on Sept 1.
“I have to be in Dewan Negara to manage the Bills unless the Opposition respects the mandate given to Pakatan Harapan and decides not to sabotage the economy and scuttle the SST Bills by rejecting it at the Senate,” he said when winding up debates on the Supply (Reallocation of Appropriated Expenditure) Bill 2018 at the policy stage on Monday (Aug 13).
Lim said that it would be difficult for him as Finance Minister if the Opposition behaved in a "mischievous" manner to block the Bills in the Senate.
“The Bills are the responsibility entrusted to me as Finance Minister.
“If they are not passed, then the revenue to the country will be affected and result in a deficit,” he added.
“Will the Opposition guarantee that the SST Bills will be passed in the Senate?" he asked.
However, Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad (BN-Parit Sulong) reminded Lim that he was addressing the Dewan Rakyat, and not the Senate.
To this, Lim said that it was a practice that party members will tow the party line.
"Instructions are issued by the party. Such games (to block the Bills) are not only 'mischievous' but akin to sabotaging the nation’s economic policies," he said.
Lim claimed the Opposition may intentionally block the Bills, and later blame the Pakatan Government for not fulfilling its pledges to the people to abolish the GST.
Datuk Dr Che Abdullah Mat Nawi (PAS-Tumpat) said that Lim should not assume senators will reject the Bills.
“Are you not confident with the country’s parliamentary system?" he questioned.
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