THE Dewan Rakyat has passed the Supply Bill 2023, also known as Budget 2023, following a simple voice vote by MPs in Parliament.
Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Alice Lau announced this after debates on the Higher Education and the Education Ministries’ allocations in Budget 2023 at the committee stage were completed yesterday.After the voice vote, MPs proceeded to a breaking-fast event in the Parliament building.
Budget 2023, worth RM386.14bil, is Malaysia’s largest federal budget to date. It was debated by MPs at the policy stage for six days from Feb 27, followed by two days of ministerial replies. Committee stage debates on Budget 2023 went on for 10 days from March 10.
Last October, then-Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz tabled a RM372.3bil Budget 2023. However, shortly after, the Parliament was dissolved to pave the way for the 15th General Election on Nov 19.
The unity government under Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tabled a revised Budget 2023 on Feb 24.
From tomorrow onwards, Parliament will resume dealing with government affairs and bills, as well as Private Members’ Bills.
