Tourism budget passed in another victory for PN

The allocation for the tourism, arts and culture ministry was passed by bloc vote after the committee-level debate in the Dewan Rakyat today, marking the 15th victory for the Perikatan Nasional government.

The budget of RM1.14 billion was supported by 109 MPs while 96 voted against it and 15 were absent.

This is the sixth ministerial allocation to be passed by bloc vote, following the budgets for the Prime Minister’s Department, finance ministry, plantation industries and commodities ministry, international trade and industry ministry and transport ministry.

The budgets for the ministries of national unity, foreign affairs, agriculture and food industries, rural development, energy and natural resources, domestic trade and consumer affairs, entrepreneur development and cooperative and science, technology and innovation have also been passed.

The budget for 2021 – RM322.5 billion, the country’s largest ever – was passed at the policy stage on Nov 26 in what was seen as a crucial test of support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

It was passed by voice vote after the opposition failed to garner enough support to force a bloc vote.