By Danial Dzulkifly
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 28 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has clarified that he has never required opposition MPs to support him as prime minister as a condition to receive constituency development funds.
In a heated session in the Dewan Rakyat, Anwar lambasted Kota Bharu MP Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan for alluding that he has put such a prerequisite, while accusing the opposition of being “arrogant” for refusing to negotiate with the government on the proposed fund allocation.
“I have never said you must support me as the prime minister to get the funding. Such arrogance,” he said during Prime Minister’s Question Time today.
“All I said was you need to discuss with Deputy Prime Minister (Fadillah Yusof), just like how we negotiated with Bera (Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob) when he was the prime minister. In fact, Kota Bharu (Takiyuddin) was also part of the negotiation process then, yet he chooses to forget all these.
“You claim to be a responsible opposition, yet you label us as non-Muslims and non-Malays. You even prayed for our damnation and now you are demanding us to negotiate with manners and decorum.”
Anwar said despite the poor conduct of the opposition, the Unity Government will not shut the door for negotiations, although he reminded that there are rules that need to be abided with.
On claims that negotiations between the two benches have reached a stumbling block, Anwar clarified that only a couple of MPs have met with government representatives to discuss and that there has been no official attempt by the opposition bloc to initiate discussions.
On a similar note, the prime minister reminded Perikatan Nasional (PN) lawmakers that when it was in Federal power, it did not provide any room for negotiations to the then Pakatan Harapan opposition for equal constituency funding.
He recalled the lack of cooperation and communication from then-premier Muhyiddin, which contrasted with Ismail Sabri's willingness to engage in discussions.
“I remembered the arrogance of Pagoh when he was the prime minister. He didn’t even want to meet me as the opposition leader. Perhaps, there is only a certain class of people (that he entertained). On the other hand, Bera did agree to meet to negotiate.”
“In my address to Parti Keadilan Rakyat members (during the party’s congress last weekend), I stressed the need for constructive criticisms, but don’t slander the government as being non-Malay and unIslamic. Such accusations are unacceptable.
“I don’t have a feeling of hatred towards anyone, but the feeling must be reciprocal. I’m not saying you must bootlick the prime minister, but give us space (to work),” he said.
