Anwar tells Opposition MPs to negotiate if want allocation

KUALA LUMPUR - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reiterates his willingness to provide the same allocation to opposition MPs as the government bloc representatives.

However, the Tambun MP said it must start with negotiations involving both parties to determine the approved parameters.

He said the opposition MPs must be prepared to face any decisions if they refuse to negotiate.

"I have said it here (in Dewan Rakyat) the approval has been decided, with only the deputy prime minister and Putrajaya leading the negotiation team and the opposition to have the negotiations on parameters approved.

"What is the problem? If they (the opposition) are not prepared (to negotiate), they must bear the consequences. I told Kubang Kerian (Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man) the same.

"If you want approval, let negotiations happen as this issue has been handled by Kota Bharu (Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan). Previously, there was no approval for discussion (during Perikatan Nasional's era)," he said in Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.

He said such when answering an additional question from Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (PN-Arau) who brought up the allocations to the opposition according to Rule 36(12) of the Dewan Rakyat Meeting Rules.

The media previously reported Anwar stated he had never rejected the principles of providing allocations for opposition MPs, but it must begin with negotiations.

This is in line with the practises of the previous government, led by former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.