{
  "id": 14163059,
  "title": "Table an alternative budget if you’re unhappy, Hamzah told",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/table-an-alternative-budget-if-youre-unhappy-hamzah-told",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T09:08:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/13/table-an-alternative-budget-if-you-re-unhappy-hamzah-told"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sabah PH chairman Mustapha Sakmud has urged opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin to present a comprehensive alternative budget plan, challenging his criticism of the 2027 budget. Hamzah has expressed concerns about the potential burden on strategic institutions like Petronas, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, and KWAP due to political decisions.\n\nMustapha emphasized that the opposition should provide a clear, detailed proposal outlining how they would reduce the fiscal deficit while ensuring continued national development, especially in Sabah and Sarawak. He noted that the government's deficit has been steadily decreasing from 6.4% of GDP in 2021 to 3.7% in 2024, and is projected to further fall to 3.6% in 2027.\n\nThis administration has seen a decline in federal government new borrowings, dropping from around RM100 billion annually in 2021 and 2022 to RM75.6 billion in 2025. Mustapha highlighted that the 2027 budget allocated RM18.7 billion to Sabah and RM16.2 billion to Sarawak, a total of RM34.9 billion, which is RM2.2 billion more than the previous year's allocation.\n\nHe concluded by stating that fiscal discipline does not preclude the government from pursuing the country's development agenda, proving that a balanced budget can support national growth.",
  "summary": "Sabah PH chairman Mustapha Sakmud says the opposition leader should show how he would cut the deficit without hurting development.",
  "key_points": [
    "Hamzah Zainudin urged to present comprehensive alternative budget plan.",
    "Opposition should outline deficit reduction while ensuring national development.",
    "Sabah and Sarawak allocated RM34.9 billion in 2027 budget."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Table an alternative budget if you’re unhappy, Hamzah told",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/table-an-alternative-budget-if-youre-unhappy-hamzah-told-14166643",
        "published": "2026-10-13T09:08:53.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}