Opposition to adopt a neutral stance if confidence vote for PM arises in Parliament

0
54

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan will adopt a “neutral stance” should there be a confidence vote for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in the Dewan Rakyat.

Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan) said this was among the things agreed upon in the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the government and the Opposition.

“Although the government would like to paint a picture of stability as they have support from the Opposition, I would like to stress that what happened is an agreement by Pakatan Harapan that if there is a confidence vote (on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob), the Opposition will adopt a neutral stance (sikap berkecuali),” said Lim.

He said the same stance would apply to Budget 2022, which the Opposition could either support or abstain from voting on.

Lim also said the Opposition would continue to play a check-and-balance role and hold the government accountable if there are any misdeeds, abuse of power or corruption.

“This is the role that we will continue to play as the Opposition,” he told the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Sept 15).

He added that the MOU had benefited the rakyat as the administration had implemented requests from the Opposition.

This included an additional RM45bil injected into the Covid-19 fund, bringing the total to RM110bil, as well as an automatic bank loan moratorium on interest payments for three months beginning in October for some 50% of those in lower-income groups.

Lim said under the MOU, RM10bil in cash aid would be provided to the lower half of the 40% households under the B40 group, hardcore poor and urban poor, 40% for those in the M40 group who had lost their income.

“Without the MOU, this would not have taken place,” he said.

Lim also said that all conditions agreed upon must be met or the MOU would automatically become null and void.

The MOU, which was signed on Sept 13, covers six main agendas, namely empowering the Covid-19 plan, administrative transformation, rejuvenation of Parliament, independence of judicial institutions, Malaysia Agreement (MA63) and the setting up of a steering committee.

Among others, an equal allocation of funds for government MPs and all Opposition lawmakers coming under the MOU would immediately be put in place.

To a question by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (IND-Muar) if he would support states governed by Pakatan giving equal allocation of funds to Opposition assemblymen, Lim said this would be the case, adding he had already contacted the Penang Chief Minister with his suggestion and would propose the same at the Pakatan presidential council meeting.



Source link