Speaker: No debate on Najib’s stimulus package
By Shannon Teoh
The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 – Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia has ruled that economic stimulus plan announced in Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s address to Parliament yesterday are not amendments to the 2009 Budget but measures to tackle the economic crisis.

Pandikar Amin said the RM7 billion stimulus package was derived from savings in fuel subsidy and not an additional allocation and it was clear that the amount was not part of the Budget.

“It is not an additional Budget. There is no change to the Budget tabled at the policy level and no change to any figures to projections made in any documents. This is the response if necessary due to the economic downturn,” Pandikar Amin told Dewan Rakyat.

He said the members would be debating the Budget tabled by then Finance Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Aug 29.

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang had asked if what was presented by Najib, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, “does not exist. It can be forgotten as it was not tabled and is a waste of time of this House.

“Is this merely wayang kulit? That it has disappeared like David Copperfield? Does this mean there will be a Supplementary Estimate to discuss the RM7 billion stimulus package next year?” he quipped, referring to the renowned illusionist.

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Husni Hanadzlah replied the stimulus package was at the prerogative of the ministry and that the House would debate the Aug 29 Budget.

“Originally we estimated oil prices of US$120 per barrel but now it has dropped. Based on our new projections, we will save RM7 billion and we will use it for certain necessities. Any such allocation only requires an administrative order. We merely wanted to be transparent so we announced the steps in advance. For the purpose of this debate, we will debate the Aug 29 figures,” the Tambun MP said.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also sought to clarify if the Speaker meant that the RM7 billion is not part of the Budget.

“The question is that at the committee stage, we need an exact figure. So we will only debate the Aug 29 figures by the Prime Minister and not consider the opinion of the Finance Minister yesterday which are not binding to the budget,” he said.

Pandikar Amin agreed with Anwar that the “RM7 billion is not part of the budget debated at the policy stage.”

By Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 – Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar suspended proceedings in the Dewan Rakyat at 12.15pm today as the opposition refused to debate the 2009 Budget at the committee stage.

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang had initially questioned the legality of Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s new proposals yesterday.

“What was passed yesterday was the Aug 29 budget,” the Ipoh Timur MP told the House, referring to Prime Minister and then Finance Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi’s original budget.

“It does not not include yesterday’s suggestions. So do we debate it or ignore it completely? Was it an illegal Supplementary Budget?” he continued.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also added that it was unclear which figures would be debated.

“Today, at committee stage, what are we debating? Is the old estimates still in use or not?” the Permatang Pauh MP said.

“I am only asking that the Finance Minister give us the revised figures so we can debate at committee stage. I am not objecting to anything, but how can MPs debate when we are not sure which figures?” he continued.

However, Wan Junaidi ruled that what had been passed by the Dewan Rakyat could not be retracted.

“The issue was passed yesterday. If the Dewan Rakyat has passed it, what other approval do we need? Principally it was passed. It is up to the ministry to release details,” he said.

However, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (Pas-Kuala Selangor) pressed on the fact that a debate could not continue without the details.

As such, the deputy speaker decided to postpone proceedings, although at that point it was unclear even to MPs until when.

When asked by reporters later, Wan Junaidi confirmed that the House would resume proceedings at 2.30pm pending the details of Najib’s proposals being furnished to the MPs.