Don't punish rakyat by denying funds to opposition MPs, Syed Saddiq tells govt

PARLIAMENT | Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman claimed that Putrajaya wants to discontinue the construction of multipurpose halls at four schools in the constituency following his withdrawal from the government coalition.

Syed Saddiq told the Dewan Rakyat this afternoon that it would be unfair if students and teachers were to be punished over political issues.

"In Muar, (the government) has approved the construction of four new halls. These infrastructures do not belong to Syed Saddiq, but belong to the teachers, the schools and their parent-teacher associations who will inherit them from one generation to another.

"But I heard because I chose to be in the opposition, there are rumours that they want to stop the construction of these facilities despite the projects having been approved many months ago.

"I want to ask the Madani government today if they want to punish the teachers, the youths from financially challenged families who really need these basic infrastructures. This is not fair to them," he said when debating the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review.

‘Repair system’

Syed Saddiq is the president of Muda, a party that used to be part of the coalition government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The Muar representative decided to withdraw his support to the government earlier this week, but insisted that Muda will be a third force in Parliament instead of joining the Perikatan Nasional opposition bloc.

In his speech, Syed Saddiq reminded the government that they would not always be in power and thus should be fair in distributing funds to MPs.

"Repair the system before it is too late.

"Remember, there are ups and downs in politics. Today we are in the opposition, tomorrow we might be the government.

"Would you like it if you become on the receiving end of this practice? Listen, remember, and look at yourself in the mirror," he said. - Mkini