'No need to use Dewan Rakyat to whine, spread hearsay' - Fadhlina
KUALA LUMPUR - The Education Ministry has assured that it will not halt any educational construction and infrastructure plans in all states, including opposition-held areas.
Its minister Fadhlina Sidek said there may be delays in some projects, but the plans will continue nonetheless.
She stressed that every member of parliament is responsible for presenting accurate facts in the Dewan Rakyat (Parliament) and should refrain from spreading rumours and claims about the cessation of projects under the Education Ministry.
"There may be delays, but we have never stopped development. If you want to be an honourable member, you need to ensure the facts are correct when entering the Dewan Rakyat.
“Don't come into the assembly and complain about 'hearsay'... I heard this, I heard that... that's not correct.
"This is a very important assembly that will ensure all development is carried out; there is a guarantee for completion.
"There is no need to use this assembly to complain and spread 'hearsay,'" she said during the discussion session of the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12) in the Dewan Rakyat today.
However, she did not specify which Member of Parliament she was referring to, but her statement is believed to be directed at criticising opposition parliamentarians who have repeatedly claimed that their constituencies are not receiving allocations.
Following Fadhlina's firm statement, Tan Kar Hing (PH-Gopeng) stood up to express support while also expressing concerns about the opposition's tendency to play on the sentiment that the government is favouring certain constituencies, citing Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar) as an example.
"When Muar left the government, he tried to create the perception that the government was favouring certain constituencies and what worries me more is that if there is a single case, he will continue to raise it and say the government is favouring certain constituencies," he said.
Kar Hing's action triggered dissatisfaction from Syed Saddiq, who then invoked Meeting Rule 36 (6) and requested a response from Kar Hing.
Syed Saddiq defended his claim that the government withdrew allocations from him as soon as he was no longer with the unity government.
He claimed that this confirmation was obtained from the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) itself.
"In this matter, I received confirmation from the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) as soon as I was in this block, the allocation was withdrawn and emptied.
"The same question goes to all opposition MPs, whom I believe have not received allocations to this day.
In the RM3.8 million that all government MPs receive, RM2 million can be allocated for building halls, school repairs, and aiding the needy.
“Don't accuse. The question is, why can government MPs get RM4 million while opposition MPs get RM0. Answer to the people," he said.
The 'commotion' subsided after the Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker, Datuk Ramli Md Nor requested the Education Minister to continue her speech.
