Mustapha cabar Hamzah kemuka belanjawan alternatif

Mustapha Sakmud, chairman of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) in Sabah, challenged Opposition Leader Hamzah Zainudin to present alternative budget proposals that could reduce the fiscal deficit without jeopardizing national development. The challenge came in response to criticisms leveled by Hamzah against the 2027 Budget, which he believes may burden key national institutions such as Petronas, TNB, and KWAP.

"The Opposition Leader should present clear and comprehensive alternative budget proposals, including how he plans to reduce the fiscal deficit while ensuring that the development of Sabah and Sarawak continues as planned," he said in a statement.

Sakmud noted that the decline in the fiscal deficit indicates the government's efforts to manage national finances with care, reducing debt burdens that will be inherited by future generations. "The figures speak for themselves. The national fiscal deficit approached 6.4% of GDP in 2021 and 5.5% in 2022. However, since government management, the deficit has steadily decreased from 5.0% in 2023 to 4.1% in 2024 and 3.7% in 2025," he explained.

He projected that the fiscal deficit will continue to decline to 3.6% this year and 3.3% in 2027, while new government borrowing will decrease from around RM100 billion per year in 2021 and 2022 to RM75.6 billion in 2025. Sakmud also stated that the 2027 Budget allocates RM18.7 billion to Sabah and RM16.2 billion to Sarawak, accounting for a total of RM34.9 billion for both states, an increase of RM2.2 billion compared to the previous year.

"This proves that fiscal discipline does not prevent the government from pursuing its national development agenda," he concluded.