PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz (pic) says that all Umno backbenchers, with the exception of Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah will vote for Budget 2021 to be passed on Tuesday (Dec 16).
The Padang Rengas MP said that there was a need for the budget to be approved because the government needs the money for the rakyat, civil servants and the fight against Covid-19.
The supply bill will undergo a third reading in the Dewan Rakyat Tuesday.
"Rest assured, we will vote for the budget to be approved. We cannot withhold it as this will affect funding in the fight against Covid-19," he said on Tuesday (Dec 15) in response to a plea by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Razaleigh to reject the budget.
"It is a commitment by us regardless of party lines. It is not about supporting the present prime minister. We must forget party affiliation. We are only supporting the budget and this does not mean anything else," he added.
Pakatan Harapan had also called on parliamentarians from both sides of the political divide to reject the budget, saying that it did meet the objectives and goals to fight Covid-19, help the people and revive the economy.
On Nov 26, the Budget 2021 was passed at the policy stage via a voice vote.
However, only 13 MPs stood up, including former Dr Mahathir and some Parti Amanah Negara members, to call for a bloc vote.
So far, all allocations at committee level have been passed.
Voting for Budget 2021 will take place after the conclusion of debates on two more ministries at the committee stage.
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