KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition MPs must play ball with the government over the latter’s agendas before the bloc demands for equal allocations, said Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli.
Asserting that the opposition has yet to ease its use of racial rhetoric, Rafizi called on the bloc to make moves towards realising government values if they wish to see equal allowances for its MPs.
“During the previous administration, there was an MoU (memorandum of understanding) between the government and opposition which detailed agreements on specific matters.
“For now, the opposition has not addressed issues (which arose from) its use of racial sentiments.
“They (opposition) have not initiated any steps. They are just sitting there and waiting for everything to be handed to them,” the Pandan MP told reporters after officiating a Chinese New Year dinner in his constituency.
Rafizi, who is also PKR deputy president, was commenting on Perikatan Nasional parliamentary whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan pressing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to provide equal allocations to opposition MPs, as promised by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) manifesto.
This came after Anwar announced that MP’s development allowances will be slashed by 65% from RM3.8 million to RM1.3 million.
In response, Rafizi said that the unity government now is not bound to any one coalition’s manifesto and is instead prioritising the current economic situation.
“The opposition should be aware of the nation’s present economic state, which the administration now had inherited from the former government.
“If the government were to cut back allocations for schools because we wanted to give equal funding to all MPs, then the people would not be happy.
“The opposition can do their part by initiating talks on certain issues, like what PH did previously (with its MoU), before the matter is brought to the cabinet,” he said. – The Vibes, February 5, 2023
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