KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 26 -- Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he instructed his side's lawmakers to allow Budget 2021 through the policy stage as he did not want to be seen as blocking aid and concessions announced by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.

He said that while the decision was very difficult as Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz allegedly "evaded substantive fundamental issues" including the projection and revenue of the budget.

"What he (Tengku Zafrul) did was to announce additional grants, allowance to frontline workers, farmers, fishermen etc, and that complicates issues.

"I don't want to be seen to be ignoring the fact that the minister has taken some measures, although he rejected the f...