Perikatan rejects Putrajaya’s allocation deal for opposition MPs

PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) has rejected the government’s proposed deal on constituency allocations for its MPs, said opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin. 

He said among the four reasons for the rejection was that some of the conditions imposed on them could affect the rights and privileges of the Malays and Bumiputera.

Hamzah also said that the government’s draft memoranda of understanding also contained conditions that are seen as contrary to traditional, cultural, moral, religious and local values.

“Third, it can be misinterpreted and lead to abuse of power. The draft MOU also does not have a clear mechanism and this situation can open the way for any violation, breach of promise, or ex-parte non-compliance.

“Fourth, this draft MOU also contains matters that are seen as restricting the freedom of speech of MPs, where each MP has the right and immunity to speak on behalf of the people in accordance with Act 347 of the Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952,” said Hamzah in a statement.

He said that PN received two sets of draft MOUs from the government related to allocations to PN MPs. One was to be between the Malaysian government and the PN coalition, and the second between the Malaysian government and all PN MPs.

“We made a unanimous decision to reject the MOU for (these) four fundamental reasons,” said Hamzah.

He said PN has also reminded the government that Pakatan Harapan’s election manifesto promised to provide constituency development funds equally to all MPs regardless of their party.

Yesterday, PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said the deal offered to them was unusual and complicated.

“We held several meetings and decided that, among others, the proposed MOU is rather unusual and complicated, not one that really intended to help the people’s representatives,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof said the government will await an official letter from the opposition regarding its reported rejection of the MoU on opposition allocation.

He said he only learned about the rejection through media reports.

“I will wait for an official written notice from them, and once we receive it, I will bring it to the unity government consultative council committee level, where we will further discuss it,” he told reporters today.

Fadillah said what was presented was just a draft MoU, and he hopes the opposition will provide counter-proposals on the points they disagree with in the draft. – September 15, 2024.