Budget 2021: Too early for opposition to state support

PUTRAJAYA: Pakatan Harapan (PH) has described it as too early for the opposition to state whether they would give support or otherwise to the 2021 Budget which will be tabled on November 6.

PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the negotiation process with the Ministry of Finance on the Unity Budget 2021 did not involve PH's acceptance of the government's legitimacy.

The Kulim-Bandar Baharu Member of Parliament stressed that the two-hour meeting was just a first-time engagement session.

"It is a process, so as mentioned by my friend (DAP Secretary General, Lim Guan Eng and Amanah President, Mohamad Sabu), it is related to the budget issue and the legitimacy of today’s government.

"This first engagement session is between us and the minister, we have just started the move. So, the question (of support) is too premature for me to answer for now," he told reporters at the Finance Ministry building here on Sunday.

Also present were Guan Eng, Mohamad and nine other PH representatives.

Commenting further, Saifuddin said PH was ready to cooperate with any party to fight COVID-19, with the intention of saving the people and the country's economy.

In a similar development, Guan Eng said the country was currently facing three major crises, namely health, economy and politics.

However, the meeting did not discuss the current political situation in the country, explained Guan Eng.

"Today we are discussing with the YB Minister on the health and economic crisis only. The political crisis must be discussed with others," he said.