PM Ismail Sabri Explores Option Of Personally Tabling FY2023 Budget

Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri will consider tabling the FY2023 budget to parliament if it does not violate the Federal Constitution, local media outlets report.

• Ismail Sabri noted that the current plan is for Finance Minister Zafrul to present the budget but he will seek advice from the Attorney General to determine if it would be possible for the Prime Minister to table the spending plan personally.
• By convention, the budget is tabled by the Finance Minister. In the past, it was only presented by those Prime Ministers who concurrently held the Finance portfolio. Yet, former Prime Minister Muhyiddin flagged rumours that Ismail Sabri wanted to do it himself.
• Malaysiakini suggested that Ismail Sabri might be seeking to become the "Budget 2023 poster boy" ahead of the next general election. The Prime Minister could use the budget speech to cast himself as the main force behind the government's spending initiatives and boost his personal popularity.
• Note that the budget has been brought forward by three weeks to October 7 as speculation is rife about potential for a subsequent snap election.