No need for GE soon, unity govt focused on economy - Fahmi

 

Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil has dismissed speculation of a snap general election, saying the Pakatan Harapan-BN federal government’s mandate only expires by the end of next year.

Speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur, the communications minister said the government’s priority remained addressing public concerns and strengthening the economy, while coalition partners had committed to backing Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim until the end of the term.

“The general election can be held by the end of next year at the latest.

“The government’s focus, and we have heard commitments from our component partners in the unity government at the federal level, is that they will continue supporting Anwar until the end of the term,” he said.

Speculation of an early election has mounted following a series of state polls that saw shifting political alliances, including BN cooperating with federal opposition Perikatan Nasional.

Harapan’s losses are also expected to feature in internal party discussions, with PKR gathering in Malacca next weekend and DAP set to determine its position in the government on Aug 16.

Fahmi, however, declined to speculate on DAP’s position.

“That is their right. I cannot pre-empt whatever the delegates wish to decide.

“But we can see that the commitment of our partners, whether in Pakatan Harapan or the Unity Government generally, is to continue efforts to improve the situation,” said Fahmi.

“In a democracy, we sit down, we discuss, and we examine what priorities need to be given attention.

“The priority is to solve the people’s problems, the economy, and also to ensure that the people’s economy, the economy in their pockets, remains the focus,” he added.

MPs’ allocations

Separately, Fahmi rejected claims of a double standard over the withdrawal of access to the MyKhas system from several MPs no longer aligned with the government.

He said the funds involved were the prime minister’s special allocation and that Anwar had discretion over how they were channelled.

“The allocation being referred to is the Prime Minister’s Special Allocation.

“If we look at the Malaysia Plan documents and also the budget documents, what is being referred to is the Prime Minister’s Special Allocation. Therefore, it is up to the prime minister to decide how it is channelled,” he said.

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Fahmi stressed that MyKhas allocations were for constituents, not MPs.

“Even in my case, MyKhas cannot be used for me. MyKhas is used for the people, residents and voters in the parliamentary constituency.

“I cannot use it for myself. So, what the prime minister said is correct, accurate and true,” he said.

For constituencies where MPs no longer have access, Fahmi said alternative mechanisms had been put in place.

“For Petaling Jaya, it is through the Petaling Jaya division chief and the two state assemblypersons. That is the mechanism.

“In Ampang, it is handled by the prime minister’s political secretary, and there is no problem or issue because the money will be channelled directly to the people and has never, ever gone to the MP,” he said.

Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail, Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung and Subang MP Wong Chen previously said they had lost access to MyKhas.

Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail

All three had attended the launch of Parti Bersama Malaysia, a party whose co-leaders are former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli and Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

Anwar earlier defended the changing arrangements, saying government allocations need not be channelled through MPs and could instead go directly to constituents and local projects. - Mkini