JOHOR BARU: It will be a disaster for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim if the Budget 2024 fails to get Parliament’s approval, says Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim.
He added that later at 6pm, Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, would wind up the ministry’s budget at the policy level.
“After Anwar finishes, there will be two votes, and this vote is not just any vote. This vote is on the unity government’s 2024 Budget amounting to RM395.8bil.
“The first vote is for the second reading of the Supply Bill 2024. This was the first test that Anwar's administration faced with a large number of 74 Opposition MPs from Perikatan Nasional.
“If the government fails to pass this first vote, then it will be a disaster for them,” he said in a statement here on Thursday (Nov 2).
Hassan added that Budget 2024, which Anwar tabled on Oct 13, could easily pass the first vote if all the parliamentarians who supported the government were present in Parliament to vote in support of the budget.
He said if Budget 2024 passes the first vote, then it would immediately be followed by the second vote, which is the vote for the Budget to be debated at the committee stage.
“If in the process of the two votes being conducted by voice vote, it will not be difficult for the unity government to obtain approval based on which vote is stronger in support.
“But if the Opposition bloc from Perikatan, which has a large number of parliamentarians, stands up to ask for a split vote, or block voting, then a moment of truth will occur.
“It will test the true strength of the government, and also, the strength of Perikatan can be counted one by one,” he added.
Hassan said if the block voting takes place, then attention would be drawn to two MPs, namely Kuala Kangsar and Labuan, who have openly expressed their support for Anwar’s administration.
He questioned what would be the form of their vote and will they support or oppose the 2024 Budget.
Hassan also said, hypothetically, what would happen if the result of the vote this evening ended with the 2024 Budget being rejected?
“The answer is that it is a manifestation that Anwar has lost his legitimacy as Prime Minister.
"If such a scenario happens where a government fails to win a simple majority in the Budget voting, then not only the Prime Minister has to step down, but the entire Cabinet by convention and Constitution have to resign,” he added.
Hassan said this was why it was important for Budget 2024 to be approved.
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