Malaysian PM Urges MPs to Set Aside Differences, Support Budget 2021

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has urged all Members of Parliament (MPs) to set aside their political differences and give their full support to Budget 2021, saying various allocations will be provided to fight COVID-19 in the interests of the people and to revive the national economy. The prime minister said a form of agreement could be worked out among the lawmakers to enable the Budget, which will be tabled on Nov 6, to be passed with the support of MPs from both sides of the political divide. "Let’s place the interests of the people above all other interests. InsyaAllah, in the Budget to be tabled the government will unveil initiatives which will ease the burden of the people in these difficult times,” he said in a special address on the COVID-19 situation Saturday. The address was aired live on several television channels. Muhyiddin also gave an assurance that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government would continue to seek the best ways to manage this major crisis that the country is facing. "We have only one objective, that is to win this battle against COVID-19 and to ensure the safety and welfare of the people are always protected,” he added. Muhyiddin said the government viewed seriously the current spike in COVID-19 cases in the country and its effects on the people, economy and frontliners. He said that in managing the third wave of the pandemic, the government has to strike a fine balance between protecting lives and livelihood. This could be done by tightening the standard operating procedure (SOP) for social, education, religious, sports and other activities to reduce the movements of people and break the chain of infection, he said. "But at the same time, we allow economic activities to proceed subject to compliance with tight SOP, to ensure businesses and industries continue to operate,” he added. -- BERNAMA