Kuala lumpur: The Dewan Rakyat today passed the Supplementary Supply (2025) Bill 2026 for RM7.94 billion in additional service expenditure from the Consolidated Fund. The Bill, tabled by Finance Minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan, was approved by a majority voice vote following a debate involving both government and opposition Members of Parliament.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Supplementary Supply (2025) Bill 2026 entails the withdrawal of a sum not exceeding RM7.94 billion from the Consolidated Fund to cover additional service expenditure for 2025. The proposed additional expenditure includes allocations for the Treasury at RM1.39 billion, statutory funds amounting to RM5.29 billion, RM993.94 million for the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, and RM257.59 million for the Higher Education Ministry.

During the debate's conclusion, Amir Hamzah noted that the total supplementary supply for 2025 was substantially lower compared to previous years, with RM70 billion in 2022, RM30 billion in 2023, and RM20 billion in 2024. He emphasized the government's commitment to maintaining prudent and disciplined fiscal management.

Additionally, in the committee-stage winding-up for the Works Ministry, Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi announced that the government had sanctioned a RM135 million government support loan (GSL) to the East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE) concessionaire. This approval, made during a Cabinet meeting on Oct 27, 2023, considers the project's physical progress, which has surpassed 90 percent, and the financial challenges faced by the concessionaire due to escalating construction costs and prolonged implementation issues.

Minister Linggi clarified that the GSL assistance would cover part of the construction costs to complete the highway. Importantly, he assured that the increase in project costs would not lead to any toll rate hike or extension of the concession period as per the original agreement.

The Dewan Rakyat sitting is set to resume on Monday.