In latest take on budget vote, Anwar claims victory due to concessions

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim insists that the much-criticised move to allow Budget 2021 to pass at the policy stage was a victory for the people and the opposition in that Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz made major concessions that would benefit the people.

"A week earlier (before the vote on Thursday), I issued a statement. If our concessions were not met, we would opt to reject Budget 2021 in total. What happened was that the finance minister made major concessions," he told news portal The Vibes in an exclusive interview.

"If the concessions made will help the people with money in the bank, the fishermen, the farmers, the civil servants, the frontliners fighting Covid-19 why should we reject (the budget)?

"How do we explain to the masses? This is what they wanted. Tengku Zafrul had conceded (to our demands). Do we still reject? What are the grounds of the rejection?" said Anwar, who is Port Dickson MP.

"The role of the opposition is not to oppose everything," he said.

“To my mind, we have won in that sense because many of our appeals, including some made by other MPs from the government side, have been met. Although not totally, but partially,” said Anwar.

Among the concessions being claimed include the expansion of EPF's i-Sinar withdrawal programme to cover all contributors who have suffered income losses, with an increased withdrawal limit of RM10,000 and an automatic moratorium on loan repayments for those in the B40 and small and medium enterprise (SME) categories.

"We verbally rejected but did not call for divisions to allow for the debate at the committee stage to continue. Dec 15 will be the major decision. To accept or reject the budget. It will be the final round," he said.

He said a rejection of Budget 2021 at the committee stage will still produce a similar outcome as one done at the policy level.

On Thursday however, Anwar vowed that Pakatan Harapan would be calling for bloc votes during the committee stage when they debate each ministry's budget one by one.

Explaining his actions after a meeting with Harapan MPs, Anwar said that the coalition remains opposed to Perikatan Nasional's budget as core issues such as an "unrealistic" revenue estimate had not been addressed by Zafrul.

Anwar came under fierce criticism for his role in what has been perceived as an embarrassing move by the Harapan coalition. He gave a last-minute order for the opposition not to proceed with a bloc vote - causing only 13 MPs to stand up in support of the gambit.

On Friday, three PKR lawmakers lamented the opposition's move to abort a bloc vote and allow Budget 2021 to pass the policy stage.

The statement was signed by Johor Bahru MP Akmal Nasir, Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim and Anwar's own daughter, Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.

"Yesterday's directive by leaders of the opposition to pass the budget came as a disappointment to many.

"We ourselves were ready to vote down the budget when the last-minute instructions to stand down came, which we adhered to as per the conventions of party discipline.

"However, our supporters have made it emphatically clear that it is crucial to be dictated by our conscience in matters of national importance. We want to honour that trust placed in us and act accordingly," the statement said.

DAP parliamentary leader Anthony Loke also apologised openly to unhappy party members and supporters over not issuing an instruction to DAP lawmakers to push for bloc voting, which resulted in the budget being passed with a voice vote.

"As the DAP's parliamentary leader, I take full responsibility for my decision of not instructing our MPs to request for a bloc vote after receiving the message from the opposition leader (Anwar Ibrahim).

"I understand that many DAP members and supporters were very disappointed with the decision and criticised our action. I apologise openly if you feel that this is the wrong decision," said the Seremban MP.

Anwar's critics had accused him of working with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and others unhappy with the PN government, only to be left high and dry when Umno rebels backtracked on their plans.

Four MPs from the coalition have confirmed with Malaysiakini that Anwar had offered to resign as the opposition leader if he fails to prove he commands majority support in the Dewan Rakyat.

It is believed that he would need the support of Zahid and other rebels to gain sufficient numbers for majority support.