Opposition members want parliament to reject supply bill

The bill was tabled for the second reading last week.

The purpose of the bill is to reallocate a sum from the Consolidated Fund as appropriated by the Supply Act 2020 [Act A1608] for expenditure for the service of part of the year 2020 and to appropriate that sum for certain purposes for that part of the year, following the formation of the new cabinet on 10 March 2020.

The formation of the new cabinet also saw the restructuring and renaming of several ministries, as well as establishment of several new ministries and one ministry dissolved with its functions transferred to other ministries.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Bebas-Langkawi), when debating the bill , said with the current economic situation in the country, the government should not further increase the country's expenditure.

"In this (COVID-19) situation, the government should reduce expenditure so that we do not have too high a deficit, " he added.

He said the government's action in increasing the number of cabinet members and form new ministries was done without taking into account its financial capability.

"At a time when revenue dropped, (the government) increased the number of ministers to more than 30 (people) and there are also special ministers who are made senior ministers and a minister assigned to maintain relations with the Middle-East middle east countries.

"They are given minister's status which means they are paid a minister's salary with all the perks given to them. This (expenditure) will reduce the country's ability to manage the government's action in fighting COVID-19," he said.

Fuziah Salleh (PH-Kuantan), who concurred with Dr Mahathir, said the establishment of the new ministries would require additional emoluments for ministers, deputy ministers and the secretary-general of the ministries concerned.

"This is not indicated in this bill. I challenge the Minister of Finance to state the amount needed for the emoluments of the ministers, deputy ministers and the secretaries-general of the new ministries.

"Otherwise, we cannot pass this bill, because previously, during our PH administration, there were only 48 ministers and deputy ministers, but now we have close to 70 (people)," she added.