KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today reiterated that the government was ready to provide allocation for the opposition members of parliament (MP) following a proper negotiation process.
During the prime minister's question time in Dewan Rakyat today, Anwar said the negotiations, however, must be carried out with all opposition parties simultaneously.
He said this in response to Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar) who enquired the prime minister on the allocation for opposition MPs, today.
"I have been informed by Deputy Prime Minister 2 (Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof) that Muar (Syed Saddiq) has shared some views (on the allocation for opposition MPs).
"However, our view is that the negotiation is not to be done by the opposition separately, we (must) do it like before.
"(And) it is not that difficult actually and I sense a less positive attitude (in regards to this matter).
"I was once the opposition leader and the opposition was stronger at the time, but there was no feeling of inferiority to meet the prime minister at his office to discuss.
"Therefore, negotiate. I don't understand why the process has become complicated. Set a date and negotiate as this is the normal condition in any democratic country," he said.
He also said that he had repeatedly expressed the government's readiness to provide allocation for opposition MPs.
"However, let it be known that the democratic parliamentary process that is practised everywhere is followed.
"The opposition, starting from the party leaders and its representatives, should appoint representatives to discuss."
Meanwhile, in answering a question from Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) on opposition allocation, Anwar stressed that he had never made it a requirement for opposition MPs to support the prime minister in receiving the allocation.
"I have repeatedly explained this even though I have been continuously attacked for not being unfair in terms of the allocation.
"All allocation processes for MPs or the opposition in a democratic country, (must) follow negotiation process.
"I have given the mandate to the Fadillah to hold a discussion and there is no condition that requires (the opposition) to support the prime minister, no such condition and I have never introduced that.
"Similar to what was carried out when Bera (Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob) was the prime minister, several negotiations were done and if there was any issue, the opposition leader, which was I during the time, would discuss and finalise them."
Previously, Fadillah said the unity government secretariat's top leadership had decided to consider allocating funds for opposition MPs.
He said the secretariat had agreed to prepare a memorandum of understanding draft, which would be presented to the opposition for negotiation.