Dr M urges Budget 2022 review, claiming it will incur debt that will burden future administrations

KUALA LUMPUR: While the RM332bil Budget 2022 is the largest in the nation's history, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad cautioned that it could leave the present government and future administrations deep in debt.

"It is the largest Budget for the nation with increases in allocation for all," he said when debating Budget 2022 in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Nov 2).

"From the newspaper reports, I see smiling faces of Malaysians.

"I believe if the general election is held tomorrow, the government parties will win big," he said.

However, Dr Mahathir (Pejuang-Langkawi) noted that government revenue for next year was expected to total RM234bil, a shortfall of RM98bil from the Budget's total allocation.

"Where is the RM98bil coming from?

"This is likely to come from government borrowings, and the RM98bil will end up as debt," he said, calling for a review of the Budget.

Although the government had raised its borrowing ceiling to 65% of the gross domestic product (GDP), he said it would mean more debt for the nation which future administrations would have to bear.

In his speech, Dr Mahathir also questioned why the Attorney General did not protest when former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak was allowed to leave the country.

"Yes, all this may not be against the law but it will set a precedent.

"In the future, can a convict be allowed to holiday abroad or are there two classes of convict?" he asked.

In July last year, Najib was found guilty of corruption and money laundering in a 1MDB-linked case.

Najib has consistently denied any wrongdoing and is appealing the verdict.

He was allowed temporary access to his passport by the Court of Appeal on Oct 18 for him to travel to Singapore to visit his daughter Nooryana Najwa, who was at that time due to deliver her second child.

However, he then sought a court order to have his passport returned to him from Oct 25 until Dec 12 instead as he wanted to remain in the country to help out in the coming Melaka state election.