PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government would continue channelling aid directly to the people.
He said such funds would not be handed to opposition MPs prone to denigrating the unity government with intent to overthrow it, but the government would ensure they get their due allowance.
Anwar said the government has given and would continue providing direct development funding in opposition-led constituencies.
“They (opposition) say we are denying the elected representatives (funds, but) we have never disregarded allowances for the representatives.
“I have mentioned in parliament that allocations for PAS and Bersatu-led constituencies will continue,” he said.
“The mosques, housing projects are all (funded) by (the government). Although these (funds) are not channelled to MPs, they are channelled to the people,” Anwar said in his closing speech at the PKR National Congress at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre today.
“Why would we want to channel (money) to MPs who insult us, want to overthrow us, vilify us?” he asked.
He repeated an assertion made by PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail earlier that opposition MPs have defamed the government as challenging Islam and betraying Malays.
“(It’s better) you (opposition MPs) just look for something else,” he said.
4 Bersatu MPs’ confidence in govt
Anwar also said the decision of several opposition MPs to back him was due to their confidence in the unity government’s decision-making and policies.
He said the MPs have faith in economic development measures implemented by his administration.
“That’s why the MPs crossed over. They (opposition leaders) are saying we gave bribes. There were none,” he said.
“I did not meet them. They made the decision. When they said they wanted to meet (me), I told them to make their decision first, then we can meet.”
He said the MPs have seen the effectiveness of the government’s policies and the economic development of the country under his leadership.
Over the last two months, four Bersatu MPs have declared their support for Anwar.
They are Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), and Zahari Kechik (Jeli).
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul revealed the four requested to be moved from where they sit with opposition backbenchers in parliament. – The Vibes, November 26, 2023.