KUALA LUMPUR – DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng (Bagan-PH) has indicated that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked between the government and opposition Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition will be automatically “cancelled” if any of the conditions are not met.
He said this in elaborating on the opposition’s stand in signing the historic document on Monday, which saw both components agreeing on a slew of reforms to transform the government and Parliament.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Lim said PH signed the MoU with the rakyat’s interest at heart, as the public aspires for a whole-of-nation approach in combating the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The government wants to show that it is a stable government, because of the support of the opposition today,” he said in debating the royal speech in Parliament today.
“But I would like to stress that, under the agreement, if there is a vote of confidence for the prime minister, the opposition will abstain. The same applies to Budget 2022, provided it includes us in its discussions and our views are considered.
“Additionally, the conditions that were included in the MoU must be implemented. Otherwise, it will automatically void.”
The MoU signed two days ago covers six key points, including on efforts to combat Covid-19, ensuring administrative and parliamentary reforms, pushing for judiciary independence and on the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
Among the main reforms are ensuring equal allocation for all MPs, expediting Undi18 registration, a two-term limit for the prime minister, RM45 billion in direct government funding to address the pandemic, and to exempt interest being imposed on bank loan moratoriums for the bottom 50% group of Malaysians.
Lim said he believes Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Bera-BN) agreed to offer PH these reforms as he knew that his position would be under threat if this was not done.
This, Lim said, is due to intense politicking among government parties that culminated in the ouster of former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin last month.
“The issue of party-hopping has become a weapon used by certain quarters to threaten the government of the day to adhere to all of their demands.
“Bera (Ismail Sabri) knows that, if he doesn’t act accordingly, he, too, will fall victim to this game, where sabotage takes place within the government itself. That is why the offer (MoU) was made to the opposition.”
Meanwhile, Lim said he will recommend to the PH leadership to push all PH-led state governments to similarly grant opposition assemblymen equal funding, as per the one included in the MoU at the federal level.
He said he has informed Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow to implement such reform, and that the latter has agreed.
Lim said this in response to Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s (Muar-Independent) suggestion for the Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan governments to provide equal funding to all lawmakers.
“I will recommend this in the coming PH presidential council meeting.”
Lim added he hopes states held by Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional will implement similar measures. – The Vibes, September 15, 2021
