KUALA LUMPUR: Selective prosecution against Opposition leaders, which Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (PN-Pagoh) described as a “shallow move" and said it should be immediately stopped.
Muhyiddin also said that Malaysians do not want a government which practices such selective prosecution to be in the administration of the country.
“I hope the government will look into issues raised (in Parliament). Don’t practice favouritism and only play up revenge sentiments by looking into the faults of certain individuals or selective prosecution.
“Such a shallow move should be immediately stopped. This is not the administrative style that the people want,” said Muhyiddin during his speech on Budget 2023 in Parliament on Monday (March 6).
Muhyiddin said that Perikatan Nasional, as the Opposition, will remain professional and transparent to play the check-and-balance role constructively.
Meanwhile, Muhyiddin also accused Putrajaya of intentionally sidelining Felda settlers in Budget 2023 for allegedly supporting Perikatan in the previous general election.
“Issues on housing for the second and third generation of Felda settlers are not mentioned at all.
“Maybe that was because in GE15, a majority of them supported Perikatan” said Muhyiddin.
“But, don’t punish them. They are humans and they want to live. They are already facing a tough situation,” he added.
At the same time, Muhyiddin said that the previous initiative of abolishing a portion of Felda settler loans during the former Perikatan administration led by him had been abolished
“It wasn’t continued by the government because it affected Felda’s cash flow.
“I don’t think the debt abolishment initiative by the former Perikatan government had a big impact on Felda's cash flow, because those were old debts.
“Besides that, Felda also issued RM9.9bil worth of Islamic Bonds (sukuk) guaranteed by the government.
“With the sukuk issued, Felda has the ability to continue with the debt abolishment initiative stated by Perikatan,” said Muhyiddin.
In July 2021, Muhyiddin announced the abolishment of Felda settler loans amounting to RM8.3bil, subject to certain conditions.
Putrajaya’s decision to discontinue Muhyiddin’s initiative was announced on Feb 24 by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
Azalina said the government could no longer continue writing off loans by Felda settlers because it has made a huge impact on the cash flow of Felda.
