Equal funds, but ‘only for MPs in reform pact’

 

Opposition leader will reportedly be provided with unspecified “appropriate” rights and privileges in the Dewan Rakyat. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Equal funding is to be provided for government and opposition MPs under the deal reached between Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Pakatan Harapan.

But only those MPs involved in the agreement will benefit, according to a report in Malaysiakini which said the document stated that “one notable caveat is that equal funding only applies to MPs involved in this agreement”.

This would leave out parties such as Pejuang, Warisan and Parti Sarawak Bersatu, as well as independent MPs.

The report said opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim would be accorded “appropriate” rights and privileges, but no details were provided in the document quoted.

Earlier today, Ismail and the leaders of Pakatan Harapan signed an agreement by which certain parliamentary reforms would be carried out in exchange for a confidence and supply arrangement by which the opposition supports the government through crucial votes in the Dewan Rakyat.

The text of the agreement is to be published at the Parliament website tomorrow, according to Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil, who is PKR communications director.

The report said a 10-member steering committee is to be formed to negotiate and oversee the implementation of the agreement. The committee will comprise five opposition and five government representatives.

More parliamentary select committees will be set up while existing ones will be restructured, and the government will also ensure a balance in the number of committees headed by government and opposition MPs. Support staff and “reasonable” funding will be provided for these committees.

The government side also agreed to PH’s call for RM45 billion of direct fiscal injection, which will be used for healthcare and aid measures for vulnerable groups and businesses.

The government will also attempt to negotiate with banks for an interest exemption for the bottom 50% of income earners who took the loan moratorium from October to December last year.

With this deal, PH will be expected to support the 2022 Budget and related supply bills or abstain from voting, on condition that these bills are negotiated with the coalition beforehand.

It will also support or abstain itself from any bills or motions that can be considered a vote of confidence, as long as these are mutually negotiated and agreed upon by both sides.

Both sides have agreed to table and pass an anti-party hopping bill, expedite the implementation of Undi18 amendments and to limit the prime minister’s term to 10 years. All of these must be implemented by the first meeting of the fifth Parliament session. - FMT