KUALA LUMPUR:DAP is ready to formally negotiate with the government to reach a national consensus with all political parties to make Budget 2021 a success and fight COVID-19.<br /> <br /> According to DAP National Organization Secretary and Seremban Member of Parliament Anthony Loke Siew Fook, he and other DAP members have held informal talks with other parties and waiting for the prime minister to call for formal talks.<br /> <br /> He said this has been conveyed and agreed by the Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council.<br /> <br /> "The Pakatan Presidential Council has agreed for me and my friends to consult and express our views, including a series of informal meetings with other parties for us to discuss the possibility.<br /> <br /> "But the most important thing is that the prime minister needs to take that step.<br /> <br /> "We can sit, talk and talk, but if there is no political will from the prime minister, then this matter will not work," he explained.<br /> <br /> Anthony said if the negotiating space is given, then important national matters such as the  Budget can be approved.<br /> <br /> "If we are given the opportunity to voice our opinion, if there are negotiations that take place, then government affairs can be carried out and the 2021 Budget can be approved," he said.<br /> <br /> However, Anthony refused to state the terms of the negotiations to the media because he said it was important that the discussions be realised.<br /> <br /> "I do not want to put any conditions through the media platform and then the discussion will not happen.<br /> <br /> "Let both the government and the opposition have the intention to hold talks in advance.<br /> <br /> "Of course, the opposition bloc has repeatedly said that we are ready to sit at the same table," he added.<br /> <br /> Earlier, DAP Strategic Director, Liew Chin Tong stated that the terms of the negotiations were that the prime minister should 'sacrifice' the Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin.<gdiv id="ginger-floatingG-container" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG ginger-floatingG-closed" style="display: none;"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-disabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Enable Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-offline-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip"><em>Cannot connect to Ginger</em> Check your internet connection<br /> or reload the browser</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-enabled-main"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-disable"><ga></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Disable in this text field</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-edit">Edit</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-mistakes"><ga></ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-bar-tool-tooltip">Edit in Ginger</gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup"><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-wrap"><ga class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-close">×</ga><gdiv class="ginger-floatingG-contentPopup-frame"><iframe scrolling="no"></iframe></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv></gdiv>