Early Budget is nothing unusual, says PM

Economic empowerment: Ismail Sabri (in blue) launching the USAHAniaga Keluarga Malaysia carnival in Jalan TAR, Kuala Lumpur. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/ The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Despite speculation of an early election, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob says there is nothing unusual with the government’s decision to bring forward the tabling of Budget 2023.

The Prime Minister pointed out that when Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was prime minister, the Budget had been tabled as early as September.

By convention, the Budget is tabled on the last Friday of October.

“This is normal. During Pak Lah’s time, the Budget was tabled in September,” he told reporters after the launch of the UDA USAHAniaga Keluarga Malaysia carnival here.

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The tabling of Budget 2023 has been brought forward to Oct 7, three weeks ahead of the scheduled date of Oct 28 and speculation is rife that the decision was made to allow Parliament to be dissolved soon and the 15th General Election (GE15) to be called.

Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar, who was also at the event, downplayed claims that Ismail Sabri was being pressured to call for GE15.

“No, no. It (bringing forward the Budget 2023) has got nothing to do with that (pressure to have early polls),” said Noh.