SHAH ALAM - The opposition is ready to support the 2023 Budget if it involved a joint negotiation and focuses on the people’s interests.
Pokok Sena MP Datuk Mahfuz Omar said for the sake of the people, he will support the national budget although he claimed that Pakatan Harapan (PH) was no longer bound to do so because the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Transformation and Political Stability did not stipulate the matter.
He said the MoU only mentioned that PH needed to support the 2022 Budget and budget-related laws after the drafting was negotiated and agreed upon between the government and PH.
"For Budget 2023, PH is not bound (to support) but we are not arrogant as it is for the benefit of the people.
"Therefore, the government should practice the same principle, which is to call PH in the drafting of the 2023 Budget," he told Sinar Harian on Sunday.
Mahfuz who is also Amanah vice president said if negotiations were not made, it will be quite difficult for the opposition MPs to support the budget that will be presented because there might be disagreements on certain issues.
Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil said the negotiation mechanism with the opposition must continue for the 2023 Budget.
He said the clauses of the MoU were still applicable because if the government had lost any motions in Parliament, it meant that it has failed.
"Last year, before approving the 2022 Budget, the opposition was consulted in a series of meetings with the Finance Minister.
"We were given the opportunity to share our views on several matters. So, I see that the same mechanism could be implemented for the 2023 Budget," he said.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was reported to have said that the 2023 Budget should have the support of the opposition because it was part of the MoU signed last year.