PETALING JAYA: Veteran newsman A Kadir Jasin says Umno stands to benefit from the passing of the budget because the party will look to exploit the weakness of the Perikatan Nasional-led government.
Kadir said if a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin fails to be tabled, then the “weak” government, which holds a razor-thin majority in parliament, will remain, while Muhyiddin will continue to run the country without legitimacy.
“In that situation, the country’s administration will be lacklustre and confidence in it, especially among foreign investors and international credit rating agencies, will continue to be low.
“The economy will suffer a bloodbath and the people will suffer,” Kadir said on his Facebook blog on the budget, which was passed narrowly with 111 ayes, 108 nays and one abstention.
But, the former PPBM Supreme Council member claimed this is exactly what PN’s competitors, especially Umno, want.
“This is the foremost (issue) in exploiting the weaknesses of the PN-led government while reaping the benefits of being part of the government,” he said, adding that to Umno, PN was just a tool.
He said that Umno was focused on regaining power in the next general election, though its prospects would not be good if it continued to be led by “kleptocrats”.