KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 5): The federal government will be tabling the motion for the payment of emoluments for 2023 in Dewan Rakyat on Dec 19, said Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“What we will be tabling in the Dec 19 Parliament session is about emoluments. If it is not passed, salaries (of civil servants) cannot be paid in January,” he told reporters after presiding over a special Cabinet meeting on Monday (Dec 5).
“However, Budget 2023 will be reviewed. I think most of it is acceptable. Certain parties expect that we are against all of it, [but] no. Whatever proposals are good, we will continue. But, of course, we will give room for the Cabinet, primarily the Ministry of Finance before the Cabinet, to gather their input on what we can improve,” he said.
Regarding the laws that were tabled in Dewan Rakyat before Parliament was dissolved to make way for the 15th general election (GE15), Anwar said de facto law minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said will review them and make recommendations to the Cabinet on whether to continue with them.
“If it is a good proposal, whether it is from the BN or PN governments, we will continue with it, no issues about it,” he said.
Anwar also assured that the government will not simply terminate any good contracts or projects that will drive economic growth.
“Good agreements, good contacts — they won’t have any issues, we will abide [by the agreed terms]. This is not a government that is newly-formed. We inherited this government with its existing system. It is just that we are firmer in making changes.
“If it is clear that a tender or project that involves billions did not follow proper processes, of course we have to review it. It is not my money, it is the people’s money,” he said.