HOLD proper discussions and not just demand for funds, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over demands from the Opposition for equal allocations.
The Prime Minister said he had already assigned Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof to represent the government to resolve this issue.
“Discuss and come to an agreement, and I will approve it. Don’t be arrogant,” Anwar said during his winding-up speech on the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review (12MP MTR) in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Anwar said that Opposition parties also did not at first receive any allocation during Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s tenure as prime minister.
“When Bera (Ismail Sabri) took over, I was thankful to him as he said, if you really want (allocations) discuss it properly.
“We sent representatives and discussed this, and there was a direction.
“He (Ismail Sabri) then invited me over for lunch and discussed this again before a decision was made.
“Once it was agreed, we signed it and it was approved,” he said.
“Yet now, there are no signatures or discussions. This is not an MP’s right.
“Discuss it properly. Or else, you can wait forever. I will not approve it,” he added.
Anwar also said there was a difference between allocations for constituents and allocations for MPs.
He added that action would be taken against those found using allocations meant for constituents for different purposes.
“This is a reminder; those found using these allocations for reasons such as people getting married will have action taken against them by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC),” he said.
Earlier, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the Opposition had yet to bring forward their proposal for equal allocations to Fadillah.
“The process is there. Complete the negotiations.
“The issue is that until today, the Opposition had yet to bring any proposals,” he said in a video uploaded on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).
Fahmi was responding to Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman who said the unity government took a “no action, talk only” approach when it comes to reforms.
Syed Saddiq had cited the issue of no equal allocations for both government and Opposition lawmakers, claiming that there was no progress despite a series of discussions.
To this, Fahmi said Syed Saddiq should ask Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin about this.
“If you want to know why Opposition MPs have yet to receive allocations, ask the Opposition leader,” Fahmi said.
During Ismail Sabri’s tenure as prime minister, Peninsular Malaysia MPs from the Opposition who signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the government received RM3.5mil in outright grants and RM300,000 for service centre operations.
In the same period, MPs in Sabah and Sarawak who also signed the MOU received RM4mil in outright grants and RM300,000 to maintain service centres.
The MOU comprised six initiatives, namely empowerment of Covid-19 plans, administrative transformation, parliamentary reforms, Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), judicial independence and the setting up of a steering committee.
