Opposition fails to reject Budget 2016 - Ahmad Maslan

The opposition's plan to vote down Budget 2016 was derailed when they failed to gain full support from their own members, resulting in it being passed for the first reading in the Dewan Rakyat last night.

UMNO information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan said previously there were rumours saying that some Barisan Nasional (BN) members of parliament (MPs) purportedly would support the opposition.

However, he said, there was no truth at all in the matter when the Budget 2016 was passed with 128 MPs voting in support and 74 opposing.

"Plans to topple the government through the 'back door' have never succeeded in the country.

"We once again would like to inform the opposition who have such ambition either through a vote of no-confidence or to reject the Budget 2016, to put an end to the perception of political instability in the country," he said.

He said this at a press conference after officiating the Grow With Us seminar co-organised by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and the Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Bhd (MIDF), here today.

Present was MIDA Deputy Chief Executive Officer Datuk Phang Ah Tong.

Ahmad said if the opposition wanted to reform the country's political system, they should use the proper channel namely through the General Election (GE).

Ahmad, who is also Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister, said in the context of investment, apart from providing good infrastructures and incentives, political stability was needed to continue to attract investors.

Yesterday, the Dewan Rakyat passed the Supply Bill 2016 without any major problems even before it was expected to face a difficult path.

The Bill was passed for the second reading after a total of 128 MPs voted in support of it versus the 74 who opposed.