Budget 2021 policy stage passed in voice vote

KUALA LUMPUR: There was a sense of relief among Perikatan Nasional lawmakers after the policy stage of Budget 2021 was passed with a voice vote at 3.24pm in Parliament on Thursday (Nov 26).

The RM322.5bil federal budget, the nation's largest ever, was passed despite a call by the Opposition for bloc voting.

Bloc voting required 15 MPs to stand up before the process can be allowed – however, it was noted by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Seri Azhar Azizan Harun that not enough MPs stood up.

The Budget was then passed with a simple voice vote at the policy stage.