KUALA LUMPUR – Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil vehemently refuted the opposition’s assertions regarding the purported receipt of a draft on constituency allocations from the government.
Fahmi, who is also the unity government’s spokesman, said that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof confirmed the non-existence of the document at the cabinet meeting Friday.
“(Fadillah told the cabinet) that there was no draft given to the opposition, nor was (a draft) received by the government from the opposition,” Fahmi told reporters after an event here today.
“(Fadillah’s) meeting with the opposition, including its leader (Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin), was just to hear their views on suggestions and offers that could be worked on.
“There was no draft, as was said by (Hamzah). I’m not sure why he (Hamzah) used the word ‘draft’ since there was no draft.”
Fahmi was referring to a meeting Fadillah held with opposition whip Hamzah, PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, and Bersatu vice president Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee on March 19.
Two days later, Hamzah, who is also Perikatan Nasional secretary-general, told Dewan Rakyat that the opposition received a draft from Fadillah outlining the government’s proposal for annual constituency development allocations.
He claimed that the opposition would discuss and sign the draft before receiving the allocation for their respective constituencies.
Earlier today, Hulu Terengganu MP Datuk Rosol Wahid reportedly asserted that the opposition had requested an RM3.5 million annual allocation for its lawmakers during its recent talk with Fadillah.
The Bersatu MP told Sinar Harian that the terms of the alleged draft agreement on the matter also include an allocation of RM300,000 to manage MPs’ service centres.
However, Fahmi said today that the government has yet to receive anything “substantive” from the opposition. He added that the government will now have to “go back to the drawing board.”.
“If there are any opposition MPs who feel that discussions (on constituency allocations) are going rather slowly, the government is not to be blamed (for the progress of discussions).
“They’ll have to ask their opposition leader why things are progressing so slowly.”
Meanwhile, in a statement issued shortly after Fahmi spoke with the press, Fadillah similarly denied issuing any draft document to the opposition on its requests for allocation.
“Has (Rosol) seen the ‘draft’ for himself? If he hasn’t, he can try asking (Hamzah) for the ‘draft’ (to) see if it actually exists.
“During my meeting with opposition representatives, there were no documents issued by the government or the opposition. There was no discussion on any agreements,” he added. – March 24, 2024