PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim backs his party strategist Rafizi Ramli, who disclosed the content of the water restructuring exercised memorandum of understanding (MOU) inked by the Selangor and federal government, declaring that the party imposes no gag order.
Anwar said although the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government has repeatedly stated that the disclosure of the MOU at this juncture might be an illegal practice, there was no way for the party to stop someone from questioning state policy.
"Many asked why I allow so many statements from the party, but we can't impose a gag order, or else we will be hammered. Just like when we disallow TV3 from covering our events," he told a press conference today.
Earlier today, Rafizi held a press conference and made public the MOU, and he also said that the water deal could lead to a hike in tariff.
Meanwhile, Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the Selangor government is scheduled to meet with the federal government tomorrow on the full disclosure of the water restructuring deal.
Khalid said although the Pakatan-led state government embraced transparency, it needed the federal government’s approval before it can disclose details of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed last week.
"If it is only a state-level MOU, it is within my power to disclose the data. But we need the agreement of the federal government before we can proceed.
“Please be patient, we will disclose once they have agreed (to it)," he said after launching PKR's Kajang by-election operations centre today.
Khalid said this ion response to Rafizi's claim that the deal could lead to an increase in water tariff.
On this, the menteri besar revealed that the figures and data calculated by Rafizi differed from the data offered by the National Water Services Commission (Span).
Anwar said although the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government has repeatedly stated that the disclosure of the MOU at this juncture might be an illegal practice, there was no way for the party to stop someone from questioning state policy.
"Many asked why I allow so many statements from the party, but we can't impose a gag order, or else we will be hammered. Just like when we disallow TV3 from covering our events," he told a press conference today.
Earlier today, Rafizi held a press conference and made public the MOU, and he also said that the water deal could lead to a hike in tariff.
Meanwhile, Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the Selangor government is scheduled to meet with the federal government tomorrow on the full disclosure of the water restructuring deal.Khalid said although the Pakatan-led state government embraced transparency, it needed the federal government’s approval before it can disclose details of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed last week.
"If it is only a state-level MOU, it is within my power to disclose the data. But we need the agreement of the federal government before we can proceed.
“Please be patient, we will disclose once they have agreed (to it)," he said after launching PKR's Kajang by-election operations centre today.
Khalid said this ion response to Rafizi's claim that the deal could lead to an increase in water tariff.
On this, the menteri besar revealed that the figures and data calculated by Rafizi differed from the data offered by the National Water Services Commission (Span).
Earlier today, Klang MP Charles Santiago said he had written to the Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Maximus Ongkili to request for the disclosure of the MoU.
"I have urged the minister to clarify whether the MOU is classified under the Official Secrets Act 1972," Charles said in a statement today, saying that media description of the details is sketchy at best.
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