Reject bills seeking more funds for govt, Dr M tells MPs

(FMT) – Dr Mahathir Mohamad today asked MPs to reject any bill seeking additional funds for the government’s expenditure, saying these would only be used to support a bloated administration.

Mahathir was debating on the Supply (Reallocation of Appropriated Expenditure) Bill 2020, which is being read for the second time at the Dewan Rakyat.

The Langkawi MP said Malaysia was facing the Covid-19 pandemic and the government’s revenue had dropped as companies’ profits were lower.

He said the Perikatan Nasional government should work to reduce the deficit which he claimed the bill would inflate.

He said the government should also spend less when it has less revenue, adding that it should not have additional ministerial positions such as the special functions minister and representative to the Middle East.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang is the special envoy to the Middle East.

Mahathir said billions of ringgit more were needed to support the additional ministries and positions.

The present cabinet has almost 70 ministers and deputy ministers.

“I am of the opinion that this is not a smart move and we cannot support this additional expenditure,” Mahathir added.