KEMAMAN: Failure by the opposition members of parliament to negotiate the allocations for the opposition bloc, will result in them not receiving anything.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he never said that there would be no allocations for the opposition, but instead asked them to discuss the matter.
"Yesterday, an opposition member of parliament attacked me by reciting quran verses because I did not provide allocation for their elected representatives. I replied that I will not give (the allocations) until the matter is negotiated amicably.
"When they were in power previously, did they give the opposition MPs?... nothing. Not that there will be no allocation but negotiate first… I've been in a similar situation in the past.
"During Muhyiddin (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister), he did not negotiate and then Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri did not give but we negotiated for months before he agreed (to give allocation). When I am the prime minister, I said negotiate with Fadillah (Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yussof)... if you do not want to discuss, that is your (business)... no allocation," he said in his speech during the gathering with Felda settlers at Felda Seberang Tayor here today.
Earlier today, Fadillah was reported as saying that allocations for the opposition MPs could be determined since opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin had yet to meet him.
Meanwhile, Anwar reiterated that parliamentary allocation for the opposition members of parliament would be disbursed directly to the people through government development programmes.
"I will not give to the elected representatives but will give them directly to the people (through programmes)," he said.
Anwar also gave his word to solve all the issues plaguing Felda settlements including issues concerning second and third generation housing.
"When I arrived at the hall earlier, I asked the people (outside) what are the problems here. One of them immediately told me about second generation housing.
"Issues at Felda settlements are nothing new and have existed for so many years," he said.