Budget 2021: Ministers will not starve just by 30 per cent pay cut - Tun Mahathir

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today questioned some allocations under the 2021 Budget which he considered not helping the government's efforts to address COVID-19.

The Langkawi Member of Parliament said the government does not actually need such a large amount in the Budget which is RM322.5 billion, unless it really is to overcome social and economic issues and to eradicate the pandemic.

He said there were expenses that could be temporarily delayed, or used for COVID-19, in an effort to address the economic downturn.

"For example, the Cabinet is too big. Many are appointed as ministers, deputy ministers, ministerial ranks but they could not even work due to the epidemic.

"We can reduce their number without affecting the course of government, " he said when debating the Supply (Budget) Bill 2021, in the Dewan Rakyat today.

In his speech, Dr Mahathir also touched on the huge allocation for the 2021 Budget but it did not specify the source of income to achieve that amount.

“From the allocations for various departments, some have been increased by 520 per cent. The development of offices can be postponed by 160 million, for the office building of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), RM64.4 million overseas, and RM231 million for the Home Ministry office,” he added.

Apart from that, he also questioned the increase in the allocation of the Prime Minister's Department to RM11.7 billion, the Special Project allocation of RM1 billion, and RM125 million for the Angkasapuri Complex.

On the proposed 30 per cent salary cut for ministers, Dr Mahathir said he was confident that they would not go starving if the proposal was implemented.

"In the era of COVID-19, I do not think the ministers will starve because of a 30 per cent salary reduction.

"On the other hand, there are many who have no income at all because they are not working or doing business anymore.

"And for them the family will also suffer. Maybe not 30 per cent. Maybe only 10 per cent," he added.

"Usually at the end of the Budget speech, there will be mention of taxes that will be introduced to finance part of the Budget costs. But this time no new taxes will be borne by the people. At a time of the COVID-19 outbreak, the economy has deteriorated badly. Of course government revenue will also decline.

"This budget will certainly experience a deficit. But the government does not seem to care about this deficit.

"Not enough money, the government has to go into debt. The total government debts will increase to RM1.3 trillion. If we owe a money to pay the debt, it will not reduce the total debts," he said.