
Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto for the 15th general election promised to establish a parliamentary budget office to allow MPs to scrutinise the budget’s impact with independent analysis and public debate.
In a written parliamentary reply, Azalina said such offices have been opened in several countries, where they operate as an independent fiscal institution.
She said such offices help to conduct objective assessments of the impact of policy proposals – including budget proposals – by parliamentarians, regardless of their political leaning.
“The unity government is open to any proposal, but it has to be based on the government’s current policies,” she said.
“Further studies into various legal aspects and financial implications need to be studied first before any decisions can be made.”
She was responding on behalf of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who was asked by Ismi Mat Taib (PN-Parit) whether the government will establish a parliamentary budget office in Parliament in line with PH’s GE15 manifesto.
Ismi said this would ensure every MP has transparent access to federal government expenditure information.
A dedicated parliamentary budget office, a fixed parliamentary term, and term limits for the prime minister and chief ministers were among the reforms mooted by PH in its GE15 election manifesto.
Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram