Heed Agong's decree not to play politics, PN rep tells govt

An opposition lawmaker has turned the tables on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s call for MPs not to play politics, by aiming the royal remarks at the government.

Alor Setar MP Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden said, among others, that the government was playing politics when it did not give equal funding to opposition MPs.

“Stop playing politics with opposition MPs by restricting allocations,” he said in a statement today.

The government has argued that the opposition should start negotiations if it wants equal funding.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, in his royal address to Parliament today, said he would not entertain coup attempts and called on those who wanted to “play politics” to wait until the next general election.

This was perceived to be aimed at the opposition, which has repeatedly said it was making efforts to take over Putrajaya.

Treat opposition MPs fairly

Meanwhile, Afnan in his statement today also alleged that there were unwritten instructions for staffers of federal agencies in Perikatan Nasional states not to get involved in meetings with the state governments or attend official functions.

He said the government should also stop playing politics on matters such as politicians visiting schools, and critical issues such as rice supply.

Afnan said if the government can resolve critical issues, fulfil its promises, treat opposition MPs fairly, and make it easier for opposition states to apply for development projects, then there is no reason the government could not last until the 16th general election.

“It should be remembered that those who taught us about political games that threaten political stability in the past are those who lead the country today.

“The Kajang Move, the Sept 16 project, pressuring Muhyiddin Yassin to resign, pressuring Ismail Sabri Yaakob to dissolve Parliament, we all know who they are.

“It’s fine when they do it to others, but not when others do it to them,” he added, saying the people would reject those who play dirty politics in the next general election.

The Sept 16 project is believed to refer to the failed attempt by Anwar Ibrahim to secure defections from BN MPs in the aftermath of the 2008 general election.

The Kajang Move was a PKR manoeuvre in 2014 originally meant to pave the way for Anwar to become a Selangor assemblyperson via a by-election, ostensibly for him to replace Khalid Ibrahim as menteri besar.

One of Anwar’s deputy prime ministers, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, had played a key role in ousting Muhyiddin from office in 2021 and was later among those who pressured Ismail to call for snap election in 2022. - Mkini