‘Can the govt manage to implement Budget 2023?’

TANGKAK: National Recovery Council chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has questioned whether the present government has the financial capabilities to make sure all the announcements under Budget 2023 can be carried out throughout next year.

“Can the government manage the budget as the majority of the allocation is to pay salaries and operating expenditure while the balance for development is smaller?

“Salaries and pensions are increased under Budget 2023. We would also like to know how payments would be made with economic and government revenue not increasing while its commitment is getting bigger,” he said.

The former prime minister said Malaysia will be badly impacted if plans under the Budget presented in Parliament on Friday cannot be implemented.

Muhyiddin, who is also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president, said this after officiating the party’s Pagoh division meeting in Gersik here yesterday.

He added that he would carry out an in-depth study on Budget 2023 to check if all the promises made by the present government could be delivered or not.

Muhyiddin said many people are still reeling from the financial effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, having dropped from B40 to B60.

“There are 30 million Malaysians, where 60% of them are affected and how much percentage of the budget can help them is what the government should focus on.

“It will be good if the promises made in Budget 2023 can be realised in January and February next year, but how about the other months? If there are insufficient funds, does the country need to borrow money to make sure it can carry out its plan?” he asked.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin, who is also Perikatan Nasional chairman, called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to stop the uncertainty by giving a clearer picture on when the 15th General Election will be – soon or postponed to a later date.

He added that Perikatan – a ruling partner of Ismail Sabri’s Barisan Nasional – had made it known that GE15 should not be held anytime soon, citing other more urgent matters to be prioritised as well as year-end flood concerns and the extra costs that will be incurred by the Election Commission for holding separate elections for several states.

Three states under Pakatan Harapan and three others under Perikatan have said they will not dissolve their state assemblies if Parliament is dissolved soon.

“GE15 should not be held sooner than March next year. The people will then see that the Prime Minister understands their situation,” said Muhyiddin.

Days earlier, 12 Cabinet ministers from Bersatu and PAS, which is part of Perikatan, had sent a letter to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong stating that they were against the general election being held this year.

The letter mentioned the Meteorological Department’s forecast of a severe monsoon and the need to allow the nation’s economy to recover first.

Perikatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said the letter was also to protest Umno’s push for polls.