Govt’s draft MoU ‘unusual’, no real intention to help opposition MPs, says Muhyiddin
The Perikatan Nasional chairman says an announcement on the draft MoU will be made soon.
(FMT) – The government’s draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) on constituency fund allocations for opposition MPs has been deemed as “unusual” and “complicated”, says Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin.
Muhyiddin said discussions had taken place at various levels, including the most recent one involving all PN MPs, who voiced dissatisfaction with the draft.
“That meeting concluded that the draft is quite unusual, somewhat complicated and showed no genuine intention to help opposition MPs,” he told reporters after the nominations for the Mahkota by-election.
The Bersatu president said a “very important” announcement regarding the matter would be made soon.
“An official statement will follow after further discussions, not only among MPs, who are clearly dissatisfied, but also with PN leaders at the central level,” he said.
On Thursday, FMT quoted a source as saying that PN is likely to reject the draft MoU due to disagreements over some of its contents and conditions.
The source said a unanimous decision was reached at a meeting involving all opposition MPs held on Monday.
The draft MoU sighted by FMT states that PN and its MPs must refrain from discriminating, sowing hatred and inciting violence in its political discourse or when expressing differences in opinions. Instead, they are required to practise tolerance and unite for the good of the nation.
On a separate matter, Muhyiddin said Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal’s naming of Akmal Zahin Zainal Zahir as his potential successor could be a way to manage the competition for the top post.
“It’s just a proposition from the leadership of Bersatu Youth to find some sort of approach that will lessen the heat of the contest,” he said when asked if there would be a no-contest rule for the post.
“So I leave it to them to do what is necessary.”
Last week, Wan Fayhsal announced that he would contest for a seat on the Bersatu Supreme Council in the party polls, scheduled for next month.
The Machang MP said the decision was made as he had exceeded the age limit for the youth chief post and would endorse Akmal as his successor, with wing assistant secretary Faiz Rahmad as the deputy chief.
