KUALA LUMPUR: The government's draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) on opposition allocation was rejected by Perikatan Nasional (PN) because it was deemed unconstitutional and a restriction on freedom of speech.
PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the MoU had a "hidden agenda" to limit the ability of opposition members of Parliament to represent their voters in the Dewan Rakyat.
He pointed to a section prohibiting MPs from discussing race, religion, and royalty, as such discussions are deemed to incite hatred.
"Never in Malaysia's history has the government imposed restrictions on what MPs can or cannot say beyond the Standing Orders of the Dewan Rakyat and the Federal Constitution," he said on Facebook.
He added that race, religion, and the monarchy are integral to Malaysia's founding, rooted in the Social Contract, which is enshrined in the Constitution.
Muhyiddin also criticised the MoU for barring MPs from making statements perceived as discriminatory based on "religion, race, or any other identity factor," which he argued conflicts with Asian values.
He said that this could include preventing MPs from opposing future government policies on LGBT rights.
"This MoU is unconstitutional and goes against the values upheld by Malaysians. It must be rejected not only by PN but by all Malaysians who value unity and harmony in a multiracial, multi religious nation," he said.
Muhyiddin also said that opposition allocations should not require an MoU, as it was a promise in Pakatan Harapan's (PH) manifesto during the 15th general election, with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim leading the government.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof furnished proof to refute PN's claims regarding the MoU, which allegedly threatened the Federal Constitution.
Fadillah denied PN Secretary-General Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin's claim that the MoU jeopardised Malay rights and imposed restrictive conditions.
Hamzah had earlier said the MoU's terms risked undermining Malay and Bumiputera special rights and conflicted with Malaysia's traditional values, while also warning of potential abuse due to vague compliance mechanisms.