PUTRAJAYA: Pakatan Harapan (PH) has outlined six key recommendations for Budget 2021.
The six recommendations are to increase the Health Ministry's resources to combat Covid-19 and non-communicable diseases (NCDs); to expand social protection, safety net, and welfare payments for the vulnerable and unemployed by increasing monthly welfare aid to RM1,000 until the end of the Covid-19 crisis, and an extension of the loan moratorium until March 31 next year.
PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, speaking to the media after a two-hour engagement with Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz today, said PH was also proposing for the wage subsidy programme to be continued until March 31 next year.
"We also want the government to increase education spending to ensure education continuity, and lastly, to develop expenditure on two key projects, which are the National Fiberisation Connectivity Plan and upgrading water infrastructure to Selangor, Kelantan and Pahang," he said.
Present were Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.
The meeting was also attended by PKR Youth chief Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, PKR Central Leadership Council member Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Subang MP Wong Chen, Amanah strategy director Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, DAP political education director and assistant director Liew Chin Tong and Dr Ong Kian Ming, and DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua.
On Thursday, the PH presidential council in a statement said the government must adhere to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah's decree that opposition members of parliament need to be included in the Budget 2021 discussions to ensure the finance bill is passed without any hiccups.
It said the onus was on the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government and Muhyiddin to heed the King's decree.
The presidential council said all MPs should participate in healthy debate sessions to ensure that the 2021 Budget prioritises the interest of the nation and the people as well as fulfilling the King's aspirations.
On Wednesday, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong advised MPs to fully support the 2021 Budget for the sake of harmony and the rakyat's livelihood as well as for economic recovery, all of which have suffered due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Third Meeting of the Third Term of the 14th Dewan Rakyat session will run from tomorrow to Dec 15.
The highlight of the meeting is expected to be the Budget 2021 which will be tabled on Friday (Nov 6).
Commenting further, Saifuddin views the budget as the paramount parliamentary duty of all MPs, and not only to ensure that the civil service has full resources to effectively combat Covid-19.
"In the current Covid-19 environment, the Malaysian economy is in crisis, threatening the existence of small businesses, jobs, livelihood and financial security of Malaysians.
"Hence, it is imperative that both the government and opposition come together to craft a Unity Budget that works for the people to help Malaysians overcome and survive the current Covid-19 recession."
Saifuddin said it was hoped that the recommendations will be accepted and incorporated into the 2021 Unity Budget.
"This budget is crucial in upholding the royal decree. On the good advice of the King, we wish to stress that this consultative process is done in the spirit of good faith.
"PH is committed to working with all parties to combat Covid-19 to the save the people and our economy.
"However, PH reiterates that this consultative process does not imply any PH support or acceptance of the present Federal government but to work together for a Unity Budget that benefits both the nation, our national economy and the people."