PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged the Opposition to negotiate for allocations for their constituencies, saying he does not understand why the process has become so complicated.
Anwar, who was responding to Pendanh MP Datuk Awang Hashim supplementary question about equal allocations to Opposition MPs, stressed that there are no conditions that any MPs need to support the Prime Minister in the process of obtaining allocations.
“I have explained this many times, yet I am still chastised. All allocations to Opposition members in democratic countries are facilitated through negotiations.
“There are no conditions like needing to support the Prime Minister. I have never done this.
“To Pendang, please inform party whips and hasten the process so this no longer becomes an issue in the House,” he said during Prime Minister Question Time in Parliament on Tuesday (July 9).
Anwar further recalled negotiations with former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, adding that several rounds of discussions were held before the agreement was finalised.
“It’s not that difficult. I believe this issue arises from a less-than-positive attitude. I was also the opposition leader once, and at that time, the opposition was stronger,” he told the August house.
“There was no hesitation in meeting the (then) prime minister at the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss the allocations.
“Back then, we even had a team of five from the opposition and five from the government.
“Therefore, to Pendang, please inform party whips and hasten the process so this no longer becomes an issue in the House.”
Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman also questioned Anwar on the matter and asked for the Prime Minister’s advice on obtaining allocations for his constituency, saying he had already discussed this with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusoff.
He said he had met with Fadillah twice in person and had sent three official letters but was informed that he had to get approval from the Cabinet and the prime minister.
Anwar responded by saying that negotiations should be held en bloc (collectively) and not individually, adding that the conditions set are the norm in democratic countries.
“Even if it’s not agreed on, discuss it again. Let it be done through a democratic process. Begin with the Opposition leader and party whips, pick your representatives and discuss the matter with the Deputy Prime Minister,” he said. – July 9, 2024
Main pic credit: Borneo Post Online
