Kuala Lumpur: The Dewan Rakyat approved the health ministry’s 2021 budget today after a lengthy argument between opposition MPs and the deputy minister, Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.
The ministry has been allocated RM31.9 billion with RM27.2 billion going to expenditure and RM4.7 billion to development.
It was passed through voice vote which showed that the majority agreed to the budget.
It was the 18th ministry to have its 2021 budget passed at the committee stage, leaving nine to go.
Earlier, the opposition MPs voiced their unhappiness over the slashed budget allocation for the other medical sectors.
Noor Azmi had begun his winding-up speech for the budget by stating that some MPs had said the ministry was underfunded with smaller allocations.
He said that 10 years ago, the ministry’s budget was RM15 billion but now it stood at RM31 billion. “That is an increase,” he said.
Hearing this, Jalaludin Alias (BN-Jelebu) and Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) asked the deputy minister to reply the questions raised by MPs.
At this point, the opposition MPs also urged the speaker to ask the health minister himself to answer their questions.
“We want the minister to reply, not the deputy,” said RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong).
Hearing this, Noor Azmi retorted: “I am answering. Sit down. Why are you disturbing me?”
Earlier, Mukhriz Mahathir (Ind-Jerlun) questioned the reasons for reducing allocations for pharmacy and supply, which he said had been slashed from RM1. 9 billion to RM521 million.
“Even though we are facing Covid-19, that does not mean you should cut allocations for other sectors under the health ministry,” he said.
Kasthuri Patto (PH-Batu Kawan) asked Noor Azmi on the allocation for mental health illness, stating the budget showed there was no increase for this.
Mohd Hatta Ramli (PH-Lumut) said there was no allocation for nephrology that deals with kidney illness.
Noor Azmi responded by saying Putrajaya had allocated RM5 million each for mammograms and cervical checks.
As the argument went on, he said he would provide the answers in writing.
