Fahmi responds to 'NATO Government' claims and clarifies key issues

SHAH ALAM - Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil, responded to three issues raised by Muar MP, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, regarding the unity government being labelled as the 'NATO Government'.

Fahmi said that these three issues involve allocations to the opposition, the declaration of assets by cabinet members, and the dropping of corruption cases involving politicians.

He said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof had informed on May 8 that the opposition should submit proposals if they want to receive allocations for parliamentarians.

"The process is already in place, please complete the negotiations. However, the problem is that until today, the opposition has not submitted any proposals.

"So, for Syed Saddiq and others who want to know why opposition MPs have not yet received allocations, please ask the opposition leader," he said in a video statement via the X app today.

Yesterday, the media reported that Syed Saddiq described the government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as a 'NATO Government,' meaning a government that only talks but takes no action.

Regarding the issue of asset declarations by cabinet members, Fahmi said the Prime Minister had announced in January that discussions were underway with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to revamp the clear and transparent parameters for the asset declaration process.

"When it comes to declaring assets, the Prime Minister already said, as part of joint efforts with agencies, he himself declared his assets in October 2022, totaling over RM11 million. I have also declared my assets, and Syed Saddiq has too.

"What the PM responded in January means that the process is ongoing to revamp the asset declaration process," he added.

Meanwhile, regarding the dropping of corruption cases involving politicians, Fahmi said what Syed Saddiq read was an excerpt from July 2022, before the 15th general election (GE15), and it was not read in full by the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) party.

He said Anwar's statement at that time referred to his efforts in 2020, not after the formation of the unity government.

"We need to remember that the unity government was formed after GE15 on the advice of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to resolve the hung Parliament issue.

"As for the matter of dropping cases without discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA), whether it involves Datuk Seri Dr Zahid, Tan Sri Muhyiddin, or any other individual, the government is not involved.

"It's a matter for the Attorney General under Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution, or perhaps Syed Saddiq can't accept this fact," he said