Perikatan MPs ask for fair treatment, notes Anwar’s previous special privileges

KUALA LUMPUR – Perikatan Nasional (PN) lawmakers are crying foul over the government’s continued refusal to grant them equal constituency funding as was accorded to their Pakatan Harapan (PH) peers when the latter were in the opposition.

Several PN MPs expressed their dissatisfaction in the Dewan Rakyat today, with some even pointing out how Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was given certain special privileges when he was opposition leader.

Leading the criticism is the current head of the opposition, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin (Larut-PN), who questioned the fairness of Budget 2023 when PN lawmakers were deliberately denied equal funding.

The Bersatu leader said Anwar, who is prime minister and finance minister, would score brownie points if he reconsiders the opposition’s plea.

“We will inform our voters that it’s true that Tambun (Anwar) has granted constituency funding to us which is equal to the government bench,” he said when debating Budget 2023 in Parliament, here today.

“We are asking nicely, and if God willing we receive the fund, we will announce it nicely too.”

Datuk Rosol Wahid (Kuala Terengganu-PN) then pointed out that Anwar had previously enjoyed several ministerial-level privileges when he was the opposition leader, and asked if Hamzah was given any of those.

Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (Arau-PN) also noted how the PKR president was then given outrider service by the previous government, when Hamzah was the home minister.

“But why is it that now Larut is not given any? Is there inequality?” he asked.

In response, Hamzah confirmed that, as the then home minister, he had given the green light for Anwar to receive outrider service and said he had no issues doing so then.

He also suggested that as the head of the government, the onus is on Anwar to act fairly.

“If a person is in power and he wants to be a fair leader, he will be fair. However, if he is in power and feels like now is the time to teach a lesson to those who previously opposed him, then there’s a problem.”

Later, Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (Beluran-PN) brought up the memorandum of understanding inked by Pakatan Harapan (PH) and the then government led by Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, of which Hamzah was part of the negotiation committee.

“How do you (Hamzah) feel about after being involved in the MoU negotiation and agreeing to provide equal allocation to MPs and ministerial status to the opposition leader, now we see their (PH’s) true colours.”

To this, Hamzah said: “I’m really confident that Tambun (Anwar) is actually waiting for the opposition (to ask) when I would like to meet him.

“I believe we all agree that if he (Anwar) opens up his door for us to sit and discuss about the country’s future, God willing we will do it.” – The Vibes, February 27, 2023