Govt ready for any possibility in winding-up of Budget 2024

SHAH ALAM - The government is prepared for all possibilities that may arise during the winding-up of Budget 2024, today, including a potential bloc vote from the opposition, says Deputy Finance Minister I Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

However, he hoped that Budget 2024 can be unanimously approved.

"We hope that tomorrow (Thursday) is just a voice vote, no need for bloc vote.

"But we need to be prepared for a bloc vote and I am confident that all MPs from Barisan Nasional (BN), Pakatan Harapan (PH), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), including the 18 parties, will be present in Parliament,” he told Sinar Harian, yesterday.

On Oct 13, the government allocated RM393.8 billion which was the biggest federal spending yet to date.

Ahmad said he was confident that the 2024 Supply Bill will receive the approval of the Dewan Rakyat, especially after two opposition MPs expressed their support for the government.

"On the government side, there are 148 MPs, but excluding Muar, it becomes 147 and Kemaman is vacant, so there are 146.

"Although there are 75 opposition members, two of them have expressed support for the government, making the government's total members back to 148, which is two thirds of the total number in the house," he said.

On Oct 12, Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid declared allegiance to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's leadership.

On Monday, Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman from Perikatan Nasional (PN) expressed support for Anwar after considering the issues faced by the people in Labuan.