KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional's Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan took a jibe at the unity government on the issue of equal allocations for all MPs.
Takiyuddin (PN-Kota Baru) said the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional government was “playing tug-of-war” and wavering on the issue of allocations for Perikatan MPs.
This attitude greatly differed from what Perikatan did when it was in the ruling government as Opposition MPs had received equal allocations with government MPs, he added.
“Be adults, stop playing undignified politics. Respect the people and the rights of the states.
“The people will not tolerate such ‘childishness’,” he said when debating the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review on Thursday (Sept 14).
Earlier, Takiyuddin said the disparity in economic development between regions was a long-standing one that existed since colonial times.
“However, there has yet to be a convincing solution.
“States categorised as poor 50 years ago have remained poor until today, while wealthy states have remained wealthy.
“We welcome the government’s policy to address this issue but we hope it is done on the basis of rights, responsibility, justice and genuine awareness, and not about election goodies or populist measures that will change according to current needs,” he said.
“It is worse when this is used as political bribery and a weapon to bully the state to accept and bow down to the wishes and manipulations of the Federal Government,” said Takiyuddin.
He said although the matter has been raised several times, states which have voted for the Opposition continued to be “treated as step-children.”
The Perikatan chief whip also claimed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had travelled for a government programme in Sungai Besar, Selangor, in three helicopters.
He also claimed that the Works Department was instructed to construct a helipad in the area.
Takiyuddin cited a news report quoting the Prime Minister who rejected renovation expenses for his official residence and vehicles to save money to help the poor.
“But, in reality, he (Anwar) did not want the car allowance as he wanted to use a helicopter instead,” he said.
This caused an uproar from the MPs from the government bench, who demanded Takiyuddin to retract his accusation.
Sim Tze Tzin (PH-Bayan Baru) said Takiyuddin was hurling unfounded accusations.
“He is slandering the Prime Minister,” he said.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor then told the MPs to sit down.
“Bayan Baru, the floor belongs to Kota Baru. If he doesn’t allow you to interject, it is his right.
“I will consider if points in the Standing Orders are raised, but nothing otherwise,” he said.
Dr Taufiq Johari (PH-Sungai Petani) cited Standing Order 36(6) saying that Takiyuddin was being malicious when he claimed the Prime Minister did not want to take the car allowance as he wanted to use helicopters.
To this, Ramli told Sim to file a motion.
“I suggest you file a motion and state exactly which parts (are slanderous).
“This way, all claims raised by Kota Baru will be cross-checked.
“If it is found that what Kota Baru said in the House is not true, then action can be taken,” said Ramli.
The Dewan Rakyat is currently having a six-day special sitting, from Sept 11 to Sept 19, to debate the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review.
