Accra:Debate on the Supply (Budget) Bill 2027 was a major focus in the Dewan Rakyat during the second week of the Third Meeting of the Fifth Session of the 15th Parliament. The discussions also encompassed current issues such as haze, health, education, school safety, and the cost of living.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, 75 government and opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) debated the Supply Bill 2027 at the policy stage over four days starting October 12, following the Budget 2027 presentation by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on October 9. Sabah and Sarawak MPs supported the increase in interim special grants from RM600 million to RM1.5 billion but demanded clarity on Sabah's entitlement to 40 percent of the federal government's net revenue from the state.
Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan) suggested forming an ASEAN Special Task Force on Forest and Land Fires to tackle the haze issue and proposed legal action for compensation if Indonesia declined assistance. Welfare concerns were highlighted by Datuk Khlir Mohd Nor (PN-Ketereh), who called for faster pension adjustments for Malaysian Armed Forces veterans who retired before January 1, 2013.
Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor) emphasized the importance of school safety and proposed training teachers to detect early signs of distress and violence among students, ensuring schools have enough counsellors and assessment programs. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced plans to procure 400 new ambulances to improve emergency responses and increased medical supplies to combat haze effects.
Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir stated the government's aim to create 500,000 jobs through AI, digitalization, and automation initiatives. The government also plans to stabilize essential goods prices following the RM2,000 minimum wage implementation in June 2027. Housing Minister Nga Kor Ming reported the revival of 1,726 private housing projects as of August.
In agriculture, targeted assistance for paddy farmers facing lower yields due to fertiliser delays was discussed. The Minister's Question Time session on Tuesday saw other ministers addressing queries in the Prime Minister's absence, as he attended an event at Istana Negara.
Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh mentioned that the transboundary haze affecting air quality since August 8 is expected to subside due to changing wind patterns. The Dewan Rakyat also approved the appointment of four MPs to the Parliamentary Services Council without debate and introduced the Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2026 for its first reading.
The policy-stage debate on Budget 2027 is scheduled to continue until October 22, with a winding-up session from October 26. The Dewan Rakyat sitting will last 37 days until December 8.