KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has hit back at Perikatan Nasional for causing a stir by speaking to the media over the drafts of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the constituency allocation for the opposition members of Parliament.
In a post on his Facebook page today, the Pakatan Harapan secretary-general made comparison on the coalition's handling of the issue when it was in the opposition during the previous administration.
"Previously, I represented PH in negotiations with the government when Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri (Yaakob) was the Prime Minister.
"First, the government presented a draft. PH discussed it in the PH Presidential Council. Then, PH provided feedback.
"The government reviewed PH's feedback, and we sat down to negotiate and find common ground," he said.
Saifuddin, who is also Home Minister, reminded PN that the MoU has proper steps and the negotiations over the matter would take several rounds to complete.
"This process had its proper steps. The negotiations took place over several rounds until both parties agreed on the contents of the MoU.
"This time with the MoU? The draft had just been received and there was already noise outside.
"Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadilah Yusof was right when he said, if you choose to speak to the media, there's no need to negotiate!," he said in a Facebook post.
Yesterday, PN urged the federal government to prepare a new draft of the MoU.
PN chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan had said they also demanded the government to set up a special committee to discuss the MoU.
He added the opposition would not move forward with any discussion for constituency-based allocations as long as they are based on the current MoU draft.
Takiyuddin, who is Pas secretary-general , had also said everything contained in these draft MoU was one-sided and unacceptable.
PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had said the MoU is deemed unconstitutional and a restriction on freedom of speech.
On Sunday, Fadillah released two drafts of the MoU.
Fadillah had said the people could make their conclusion on the claims made by opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin about the MoU.