In a joint statement, the 20, however, said an election should be called once the Covid-19 situation improved and people were allowed to cast their ballot in order to have a more stable government.

A stable government, they said, was needed to ensure the nation could recover from the outbreak.

“And the first step is to ensure that Budget 2021 is supported and approved by the MPs.

“This is in line with the Agong’s advice to MPs to back Budget 2021,” they said.

Among the 20 MPs who signed the statement were Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong, Human Resources Minister M Saravanan, Higher Education Minister Noraini Ahmad, Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa, Youth and Sports Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, National Unity Minister Halimah Mohamed Sadique and Health Minister Dr Adham Baba.

The remaining nine were deputy ministers, including Wee Jeck Seng (plantation industries and commodities); Arthur Joseph Kurup (Prime Minister’s Department) and Zahidi Zainul Abdidin (communications and multimedia ministry).