Budget 2021: Education Ministry allocation passed with simple voice vote

KUALA LUMPUR: The RM53.6bil allocation for the Education Ministry under Budget 2021 has been passed at the committee stage in Parliament via a simple voice vote on Tuesday (Dec 15).

This is the 26th ministry which allocation under Budget 2021 was passed in Parliament since committee stage debates began on Dec 3.

There was no bloc vote called by the Opposition, despite several MPs declaring that it would not pledge support during the passing of allocations for the Education Ministry.

Debates for the final Budget 2021 allocation – for the Higher Education Ministry – are still ongoing here in Parliament.

It is expected to be passed at the third reading by 3.30pm.

Pakatan Harapan have said that all of its MPs would not support Budget 2021 in its third reading and would call for a bloc vote.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former adversary Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah had also called on MPs to vote based on their conscience should a bloc vote at the third reading be called.

The highest number the Opposition achieved through a bloc vote was on Dec 2, with 104 against and 110 for the International Trade and Industry Ministry's RM1.2bil allocation.

A defeat of the budget at this stage would not lead to a collapse of the government, but would be akin to a no-confidence vote against the Perikatan Nasional administration.