KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari (Gombak-PH) is open to being a mediator to resolve the deadlock between government and opposition lawmakers concerning parliamentary allocations.
Amirudin, who is also Selangor menteri besar, was responding to a question by Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (Pengkalan Chepa-PN), who asked if opposition assemblymen in Selangor had to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for allocations.
“The situation is different. In Selangor, the political tensions between parties are not as intense as they are on the federal level,” Amirudin told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Acknowledging that the opposition was not agreeable to a draft MoU proposed by the Madani government, Amirudin said discussions can only go forward if there is feedback from Perikatan Nasional (PN) lawmakers.
Referring to a MoU between former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri (Bera-BN) and the Pakatan Harapan opposition in 2021, Amirudin pointed out that a special committee was formed and both parties had numerous meetings which spanned for months before reaching a consensus.
“That’s how you do things. You don’t simply issue a press statement later to make the MoU fail,” Amirudin added.
The Gombak MP’s comments then prompted Marzuk to suggest that Amirudin mediate discussions to assist both parties reach a consensus.
“I have no problem with being a mediator to encourage discussions that are mutually beneficial,” Amirudin added.
“When we came to an understanding with the honourable Bera, it was during a very politically heated time.
“If we reject certain things outright, it wouldn’t have brought any good. However, if we agree on some things, I don’t see why we can’t go forward,” Amirudin added.
On September 15, in a press statement, opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (Larut-PN) rejected the draft of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) prepared by the government on parliamentary allocations.
Hamzah, who is both PN and Bersatu’s secretary-general, said several conditions imposed in the MoU could affect the special privileges of the Malays and Bumiputera that are guaranteed under the constitution.
Hamzah also said the draft MoU seemed to contain conditions that stifle MPs’ freedom of speech despite them having the rights and immunity to speak up on matters of public interest. – October 21, 2024