Opposition should scrutinise budget, not create alternative: Hamzah

Finance Minister Hamzah Zainudin said there is little value in opposition parties developing parallel budget proposals, emphasising instead that their parliamentary responsibility centres on policy scrutiny and recommending improvements to government initiatives.

Hamzah's comments reflect the government's position on the opposition's role in the legislative process. He stressed that opposition lawmakers should focus their efforts on examining existing policies and suggesting meaningful amendments rather than pursuing standalone budgetary frameworks.

The minister's remarks come as Malaysia's parliament continues its budgetary and policy review cycles. The distinction drawn between constructive opposition oversight and the creation of alternative fiscal documents underscores differing views on how non-governing parties should function within the parliamentary system.

Opposition involvement in budget debates typically takes the form of questioning expenditure priorities, challenging fiscal assumptions, and proposing targeted policy changes during parliamentary sessions. Hamzah's statement suggests the government views such focused engagement as the appropriate avenue for opposition contribution to fiscal governance.