PAKATAN Harapan Youth information chief Ammar Atan has slammed Perikatan Nasional (PN) for rejecting the government’s draft of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding the allocations for the opposition.
In a statement on Friday (Sept 20) Ammar said PN’s rejection of the MOU is an indication of how the coalition puts personal interests ahead of the wellbeing of the people.
“The move that could have led to political stability in the country has now become a political drama without an end in sight,” the Amanah Youth vice-chief lamented.
“The people who have been expecting a resolution to this matter is now served with more of PN’s rhetoric and political games.”
Elaborating, Ammar said the MOU gives the opposition the opportunity to play a more constructive check and balance role and ensure that all allocations are distributed fairly to all Members of Parliament.
Citing Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof who had previously mentioned that the MOU was drafted with the aim of fostering harmony and political stability, Ammar expressed disappointment that PN had rejected the draft MOU without introducing a counter proposal.
“PN’s rejection of the draft MOU goes on to show that they are more interested in political divisions than solutions in the interests of the people,” he reckoned.
“The political stability promised by the MOU is crucial for the country’s economic recovery. However, PN continuing to play political games shows that they would neglect the interests of the people for the sake of their own political goals.”
On Sunday (Sept 15), Hamzah had said PN unanimously rejected two proposed MOUs – one between the government and PN, and the other between the government and PN MPs – due to several concerns.
Hamzah had claimed the MOUs contained conditions that could “jeopardise the special rights of Malays and Bumiputeras” under the Federal Constitution.
While criticising the drafts for conflicting with traditional, cultural, moral, religious, and local values, he also cited the potential for “misinterpretation and abuse of power” due to unclear compliance mechanisms.
Hamzah also criticised the MOU for including clauses that could restrict MPs’ freedom of speech, which he said goes against the law that guarantees MPs immunity on anything that is said in the Dewan Rakyat on behalf of the people. – Sept 20, 2024
Main image: Malaysia Bangkit
