KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said today there will be no "Unity Budget 2021" if the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government rejects Pakatan Harapan's (PH) six key fiscal and financial measures which are intended to save jobs, businesses and livelihoods of Malaysians.

In a statement today, ex-finance minister Guan Eng, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bagan, said as Malaysia faces a surge in Covid-19 infections, it is imperative that all parties come together to craft a unity budget that will help Malaysians overcome and survive the current Covid-19-driven economic recession.

According to Guan Eng, the many ideas proposed by PH for Unity Budget 2021 to revive the economy, and to save jobs and businesses, can be summarised into six key fiscal and financial measures.

The six measures include a proposed increase in Ministry of Health (MoH) resources to fight Covid-19 and non-communicable diseases besides the expansion of social protection, the safety net and welfare payments for the vulnerable and unemployed by increasing monthly welfare aid to RM1,000.

According to him, PH’s proposals include the extension of the bank loan repayment moratorium and continuation of the wage subsidy until March 31, 2021, a proposed increase in education spending to ensure education continuity, budget allocations for the National Fiberisation and Connectivity Plan and upgrading of water infrastructure in Selangor, Kelantan and Pahang.

"DAP reiterates that this Unity Budget is crucial in upholding the royal decree rejecting an emergency proclamation for the country, avoiding additional any requests for an emergency and also avoiding a snap general election, which will only worsen Covid-19 infections. The Unity Budget is not equivalent to the so-called unity government as speculated.

"PH has clearly stated that this budget consultative process is not an expression of support or acceptance of the political and moral legitimacy of the present PN federal government. If any of the key six measures proposed by PH are rejected, then there will be no Unity Budget that can work to benefit the nation, our national economy and the rakyat (people),” Guan Eng said.

Guan Eng's statement today followed PH's meeting yesterday with Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.

It was reported yesterday that PH forwarded its proposals to Tengku Zafrul in the meeting.

Malaysia's Budget 2021 is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament this Friday.