KUALA LUMPUR: The Perikatan Nasional government's crucial Budget 2021 will be tested in Parliament on Thursday (Nov 26) despite rife speculation that there could be delays due to the shortened Parliamentary sitting at present.
This was confirmed by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law) Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan, who moved a motion in Parliament on Thursday stating that today's sitting will not be adjourned until all ministerial replies on Budget 2021 at the policy stage are completed.
"In accordance with Standing Order 12(1), I'm seeking to propose that the Thursday (Nov 26) meeting would not be adjourned until all ministries finish their turns in answering debates at the policy stage," he said at the start of Parliament proceedings on Thursday.
The motion was approved by a simple voice vote by MPs. 

At present, there are still remaining nine ministries to deliver winding up speeches on Budget 2021: National Unity; Plantation Industries and Commodities; Foreign Affairs; Health; Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs; Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives; Tourism, Arts and Culture; Agriculture and Food Industries; and Finance.
On Wednesday (Nov 25), there were concerns that the vote on Budget 2021 might be delayed as many ministries could not deliver their responses on issues raised by MPs during debates because daily proceedings have been cut short to 2pm to curb the spread of Covid-19.
However, the issue was addressed after Takiyuddin extended the Parliament session to 3pm on Wednesday, allowing more ministries to deliver their respective wrapping up speeches.
Every ministry is allocated 20 minutes each to deliver its winding up speech.
There are 220 MPs out of the 222-seat Parliament at present, following the recent deaths of Batu Sapi MP Datuk Liew Vui Keong and Gerik MP Datuk Hasbullah Osman.
The Perikatan Nasional government requires a simple majority of 111 to pass Budget 2021.
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