(Nov 12): Parliament will likely not vote down Budget 2016 when it meets on Monday, says DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang.

Lim, who is also Gelang Patah MP, said he did not foresee the ruling coalition federal lawmakers, especially those from Malay party Umno, breaking ranks in voting down the budget tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Doing so will see them being subjected to disciplinary action, he added.

“From the present political scenario, this will not happen as I do not see any possibility of some 40 Umno-BN MPs crossing the floor on Monday to join the 71 Pakatan Harapan MPs from DAP, PKR and Amanah to vote down Budget 2016.

“Things may be different if there is assurance that some 40 Umno-BN MPs will 'strike' at one go to show their lack of confidence in Najib's leadership. I do not see this happening this coming Monday,” he said at the “Solidarity with Lim Kit Siang and Mana RM2.6 billion?” forum in Kota Kinabalu last night.

Parliament reconvenes on Monday after a week's break owing to the Deepavali celebrations which will see lawmakers voting either for or against the budget.

If the budget is defeated, it is akin to a vote of no-confidence against Najib, which will force him to step down as prime minister.

A two-thirds majority is needed to vote down the budget, but the opposition lacks numbers, making up only 88 members in the 222 lower house seat of the Dewan Rakyat.

The newly set up Pakatan Harapan informal coalition only has 72 MPs.

Najib is currently under fire over the scandal surrounding his brainchild, state investment vehicle 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) as well as the RM2.6 billion "donation" from an unknown Middle Eastern donor into his personal accounts ahead of the 2013 general election.

These developments led opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to file a no-confidence motion against the prime minister.

Lim, who will not be in Parliament as he is serving his six month suspension for insulting Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, also did not put much faith in opposition party PAS in joining Pakatan Harapan representatives in voting against the budget. – The Malaysian Insider