KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s offer of bipartisan cooperation may have been a product of discreet negotiations between Perikatan Nasional (PN) and certain DAP key figures.
According to a Sin Chew Daily report, quoting sources, DAP may have been keen to pledge support to the PN led government, up until the offer became public.
The seven pledges made by Muhyiddin in the event he garners a vote of confidence is understood to be the reforms that the opposition was agreeable to.
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz was handpicked to lead the negotiations as he had been in talks with opposition members previously for last year’s budget.
Sources were quoted as saying that four MPs were chosen by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng to attend the negotiations, including Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming and Damansara MP Tony Pua.
It is also reported that attempts were made to reach out to Pejuang’s Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and opposition chief and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, but they turned down invitations.
On Friday, after Muhyiddin’s announcement calling for cooperation from opposition parties to maintain the current government, all opposition parties unanimously rejected the Pagoh MP’s offer.
Ong and Tony appeared to be the only ones from the opposition aisle which seemed keen to consider Muhyiddin’s proposal.
“PM @MuhyiddinYassin has proposed a way forward with a number of institutional reforms that could leave a lasting impact on Malaysian politics if passed. I think that all political parties should sit down to discuss if these terms are acceptable or not, no?”, Ong tweeted on Friday.
However, given the backlash faced on social media, Ong later thanked netizens for their feedback, and said he will stand by his party’s decision.
Similarly, Pua, emphasised that he has no love for PN or Muhyiddin, but stated the benefits in considering the bipartisan offer.
“Let us now count the potential benefits to the rakyat – we end the political turmoil and impasse; we block the return of the kleptocrats; we prevent a general election (GE) in the middle of a pandemic; we get the PN govt to institute priceless reforms; we get an equal say in passing all bills and finally, we’ll get to kick PN out in a GE to be held about 10 months away.
“My view is, if we cannot secure a majority for our opposition leader, we must give the offer by Muhyiddin full consideration. He has asked to meet all opposition parties to discuss the above.
“And we must at the very least agree to attend the meeting. After all, there’s everything to gain for the rakyat, and nothing to lose,” Pua posted on Facebook on Friday.
Attempts have been made to contact Ong and Pua for comments. – The Vibes, August 15, 2021
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