KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 27): Dewan Rakyat passed the RM393.8 billion Budget 2024 on Monday with a majority voice vote after 24 days of debate.

Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul announced this after debates on the allocations for the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) at the committee stage were completed.

In the afternoon, 28 members of Parliament (MPs) participated in debates during the committee stage for MOE’s allocations, while 21 MPs debated MOHE’s allocation.

Budget 2024, themed Reformasi Ekonomi, Memperkasakan Rakyat, comprises an operating expenditure of RM303.8 billion and development expenditure of RM90 billion, including RM2 billion in contingency savings.

The Ministry of Finance received the highest allocation of RM66.6 billion under Budget 2024, still lower than the RM81.4 billion it received under Budget 2023, followed by MOE with RM58.7 billion, up from RM55.2 billion previously, and the Ministry of Health with RM41.2 billion, up from RM36.3 billion previously.

Starting Nov 28, Parliament will resume discussion on government affairs and Bills, as well as Private Members’ Bills.

The current Dewan Rakyat sitting will continue until Nov 30 before taking a break until the house reconvenes next year.

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