KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders have welcomed the impending announcement on allocations for opposition members of parliament (MPs), with many hoping for a "just and fair deal."
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee hoped for a resolution to the longstanding issue.
He said allocating funds to the opposition would not affect the position of the federal government.
"The Madani administration is strong since it commands a two-third majority (in Parliament). There will be no change in the federal government even if the opposition is given the allocation.
"The distribution of these funds will instead foster democracy in the country. Therefore, the federal government should respect democracy and acknowledge the opposition's role in providing checks and balances against the federal administration," the Beluran MP said.
PN Youth deputy chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said granting allocations to opposition MPs will not only benefit both sides of the political divide but also the people.
"We do not want democracy to be subverted under any agreement that contravenes the spirit of fairness and justice. We just want a fair and just deal, and democracy must be upheld.
"Therefore, do not shortchange us. The people are watching.
"Having said that, we will leave it to the opposition leader (Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin) and our chief whip (Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan) to discuss and negotiate on behalf of all the (opposition) MPs," he said.
Wan Fahysal, who is the Machang MP, also hoped that discussions over the matter will materialise soon and that both sides will come to an agreement on the conditions and terms.
Pas' Dewan Ulama chief Datuk Ahmad Yahaya and Bachok MP Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman briefly said they are leaving it to the party's top leaders to decide on the matter.
However, Pas central committee member Datuk Awang Hashim questioned the government's sincerity over the issue.
"I have yet to receive any information on the discussion next week. However, discussions over the matter have been carried out three to four times without any positive developments for the opposition MPs," said the Pendang MP.
Earlier today, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the unity government secretariat would meet on Wednesday to discuss allocations for opposition MPs. (hyperlink: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/04/1037371/unity-government-secr...)
The meeting, said Fadillah, is a follow-up to meeting he had with Hamzah, Takiyuddin and Kiandee last month.
"I asked what they wanted, and he (Hamzah) said they wanted allocations and that they would leave it to the government to decide on the conditions (for the allocations)," Fadillah said.
