Anwar urges Opposition to negotiate for allocations collectively

KUALA LUMPUR: There are no conditions to support the Prime Minister if wanting to obtain parliamentary allocations, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

In calling for cooler heads to prevail, Anwar again urged the Opposition to negotiate with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

“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,” he said during Prime Minister Question Time in Parliament on Tuesday (July 9).

“To Pendang, please inform party whips and hasten the process so this no longer becomes an issue in the House,” he said.

Anwar was responding to Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) ‘s supplementary question about equal allocations to Opposition MPs.

To this, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar) asked for the Prime Minister’s advice on obtaining allocations for his constituency.

“I have discussed this with the Deputy Prime Minister. Twice physically and three times through official letters but was informed that I had to get approval from the Cabinet and Prime Minister.

“Do advise how I can proceed, be it in the House or outside,” he said.

Anwar responded by saying that negotiations should be held en bloc (collectively) and not individually,

He added that the conditions set are also 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 and discuss with the Deputy Prime Minister,” he said.

The issue of equal allocations has been a talking point, with the Opposition continuously raising the matter.

More recently, Muar MP Syed Saddiq also ran 200km from his constituency to Parliament to seek justice for Opposition constituencies, which he claimed were deprived of funding.