KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat on Monday passed the first reading of the RM280.25 billion Supply Bill 2018 through a bloc vote after four hours of intense debate.
The bill was approved with 107 in favour, 59 against and 11 abstained, after it was brought into the House for decision by Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin.
The bloc vote was proposed by Pas’ Pokok Sena MP, Datuk Mahfuz Omar right after Second Finance Minister, Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani tabled the bill.
After the voting, Pandikar announced that the second reading would be done tomorrow.
The bill was tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Oct 27 with the proposed allocation of RM280.25billion, an increase of RM19.45billion from the 2017 Budget allocation of RM260.8 billion.
Of the total figure, RM234.45 billion is for administration, and the remaining RM46billion is for development.-- Reporting by ARFA YUNUS, FERNANDO FONG AND BEATRICE NITA JAY.