Opposition fails to stop RM5.4 billion budget for Zuraida’s ministry

The RM5.36 billion allocation for the housing and local government ministry headed by Zuraida Kamaruddin was successfully passed in the Dewan Rakyat after a lengthy debate between MPs over the RM8.6 million set aside for local community mobilisers (penggerak komuniti tempatan or PeKT).

The bloc vote, the seventh so far, saw 106 MPs in support of the budget, 96 against and 18 absent.

This marks the 19th ministerial allocation to be passed so far.

Earlier, four motions to reduce the allocation for PeKT were rejected following debate by the MPs for Tanjong Malim, Lembah Pantai, Pasir Gudang and Tuaran who had submitted the motions in question.

Four other MPs from the government bloc – Arau, Padang Rengas, Tambun and Tanjong Karang – had argued against this.

The budget for 2021 – RM322.5 billion, the country’s largest ever – was passed at the policy stage on Nov 26 in what was seen as a crucial test of support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

It was passed by voice vote after the opposition failed to garner enough support to force a bloc vote.