Budget 2025 Takes Centre Stage In First Week Of Parliament Sitting

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 (Bernama) -- The tabling of the Supply Bill 2025 (Budget) today was the highlight of the first week of the Third Meeting of the Third Session of the 15th Parliament, which began on Monday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also Finance Minister, tabled the third budget under the MADANI government, which is the final one under the 12th Malaysia Plan (2021-2025), before transitioning to the 13th Malaysia Plan for the next five years.

Budget 2025 allocates RM421 billion, the largest in history, and is strategically aligned with the MADANI Economy framework. It focuses on attracting high-quality investments, driving business opportunities, implementing projects for the well-being of the people and ensuring their purchasing power for essential goods and services is not compromised.

According to the Parliament calendar, Budget 2025 will be debated at the policy level for eight days starting from Oct 21, followed by a 12-day committee-level debate starting on Nov 13.

The first week of the Dewan Rakyat session also made history with the passing of Constitutional amendments on citizenship with more than two-thirds majority in a bloc vote during the second and third readings.

A total of 206 Members of Parliament (MP) supported the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2024 which, among other things, aims to lower the age requirement for citizenship application from 21 to 18 years.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, during his winding-up session assured that his ministry would review all pending citizenship applications and decide whether to accept or reject, within 12 months.

Also passed this week was the Sabah Labour Ordinance (SLO) (Amendment) Bill 2024, which seeks to ensure that the rights and welfare of workers in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah’s 2.06 million workers are aligned with international labour standards.

The Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Bill 2024, aimed at ensuring the nation’s preparedness in addressing threats of infectious diseases, was also approved.

Meanwhile, the issue of GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) was raised during a ministerial briefing by Saifuddin Nasution, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.

The first week also saw Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said tabling a motion on the Auditor General’s Report.

Additionally, three bills were tabled for their first reading; the Water Services Industry (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (Amendment) Bill 2024 and the National Wages Consultative Council (Amendment) Bill 2024.

This parliamentary session will convene for 35 days, from Oct 14 to Dec 12.

-- BERNAMA