KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim once again stressed that the government was open to giving equal funding to opposition members of parliament (MP) with proper negotiations.
Anwar said the funding given, however, would need to go through a negotiation process led by the deputy prime minister with the opposition leader.
"I have mentioned (before) that the approval (on the funding) has been given. However, negotiation needs to be done by the deputy prime minister and Putrajaya with the opposition to discuss the approved parameters.
"I have also told Kubang Kerian (Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man) that let there be negotiations as what was done previously.
"So what is the issue now? If they are not ready (for the negotiations) then they need to bear the burden," he said in Dewan Rakyat.
Anwar said this after a standing order was raised by Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim who urged the prime minister to clarify the matter.
Meanwhile, Anwar said the negotiations would be the mechanism to allow equal funding given to opposition MPs.
"We have the representatives on both sides so let there be a negotiation. Don't blame me and say I did not give (the funding).
"I have stated from earlier on that we have approved the funding and we have included it in our allocation," he said in response to a question raised by Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (Perikatan Nasional-Kota Baru) on whether this will be the mechanism moving forward.
Anwar had previously (on March 7) said he was not against providing equal funding to the opposition MPs as what was given to government MPs.
