Will Parliament be dissolved before Budget 2023 is passed?

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Parliament's Dissolution Timing Relative to Budget 2023 Passage Remains Uncertain

Speculation is rife that Parliament may be dissolved before the upcoming Budget 2023 can be fully passed, potentially leaving the country without government spending allocations for the initial months of 2023. The current parliamentary sitting, which commenced this morning, has been brought forward by over three weeks from its originally scheduled start of October 26. This accelerated timeline fuels conjecture about the timing of the 15th general election (GE15), with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob facing pressure from Umno leaders to hold the polls as soon as possible.
Budget 2023 Debate Schedule

The Supply (Budget) Bill 2023 is slated for policy-level debate from October 11 to October 26. Following this, the committee-level debates are scheduled to take place from November 2 to November 23. The duration of the Dewan Rakyat's meeting is set to conclude on November 29, after 32 days, while the Dewan Negara is expected to convene for 11 days between November 21 and December 7.
Intensified Political Climate and Election Speculation

The current parliamentary session is taking place amidst considerable political pressure on Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob from within Umno to call for the 15th general election. This pressure has been ongoing for months, and on September 17, the Prime Minister indicated that the nation was "very close" to national polls. The advancement of the parliamentary sitting by more than three weeks adds further weight to these speculations about an imminent general election.
Key Legislation on the Agenda

Beyond the budget, several significant legislative proposals are scheduled for this sitting. Among the first to be tabled is the anti-stalking Bill, aimed at criminalizing both virtual and physical stalking. Additionally, a Political funding Bill is expected, which seeks to regulate how politicians and their parties raise funds for their activities. The control of tobacco products and smoking Bill, proposing to ban the sale and use of smoking products for individuals born in 2007 or later, is also anticipated to be reintroduced this week following a review. Other proposed amendments include those to the Trade unions Bill, Renewable Energy Bill, Sustainable Energy Development Authority Bill, and the Printing of Qur’anic Texts Bill.

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Will Parliament be dissolved before Budget 2023 is passed?

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