MP SPEAKS | Storm of protest over Budget 2021 vote most welcome

MP SPEAKS | I see the protests in a very positive light.

Even my former political secretary, Dyana Sofya, protested as well as other DAP leaders, including the DAP Malacca Ayer Keroh assemblyperson Kerk Chee Yee and the Selangor Subang Jaya State assemblyperson Michelle Ng.

But there had been a number of misconceptions. There is, firstly, the misconception that the opposition MPs, apart from those who stood up calling for a division, had succumbed to pressure and voted in support of Budget 2021.

This is not the case. The opposition MPs, including those who stood up calling for a division, all voted against the budget – but it was by a very loud negative voice vote against the ‘Yes’ voice vote and not by division, with every MP recording ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in the vote.

In my article on Nov 21, I said:

“Members of Parliament have two choices when the 2021 Budget comes up for a second reading vote next Thursday, Nov 26.

“Firstly, to force a showdown on Thursday whether to accept or reject Budget 2021; or secondly, to fully explore the avenues available in the parliamentary process by proposing amendments during the committee stage of the budget to the most objectionable provisions like the RM85.5 million revival of the Special Affairs Department (Jasa) to carry out negative propaganda campaign for the government, and then for a definitive vote to be made during the third reading of the budget on Dec 15.”

As the Pakatan Harapan presidential council decided on Nov 25 to unanimously ...