Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has emphasised that the government remains open to discussions with the opposition regarding allocations for opposition Members of Parliament (MPs).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, stated that any arising issues could be addressed through meetings, and the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on opposition allocations could be amended if necessary. “I attended five meetings when I was in the opposition. Have meetings first — the draft can be amended. Why make noise outside? Want to be a street hero? Learn first,” he said to reporters after attending the 29th Revenue Day celebration at the Inland Revenue Board Tower.
Anwar’s comments were in response to a statement by Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who claimed that the coalition had valid reasons for rejecting the government’s conditions regarding allocations for opposition MPs. Muhyiddin alleged that the conditions in the MoU were unusually strict, as if the opposition had to surrender everything to the government.
On February 22, Anwar reiterated his advice for opposition MPs to engage in discussions with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof regarding the allocations. He mentioned that such talks were not new, citing his previous engagements with the ninth Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, when Pakatan Harapan was in the opposition.
Anwar further commented that the opposition was exploiting the issue to gain public attention, with some claiming financial burden and debt despite earning up to RM40,000 per month. He noted, “Do you know how much an MP earns, including meeting allowances? RM30,000 to RM40,000. So, it’s not like they have no money at all.”
He also highlighted that allocations for all parliamentary constituencies, including those held by the opposition, were still channelled to the people regardless of political affiliation. Anwar provided an example, saying, “For example, take a constituency like Tambun, let’s say it is under the opposition. Road projects will still proceed; it’s a question of whether the funds will go directly to the people or be proposed by the MP — that’s the difference.”
Anwar concluded by addressing claims of MPs being financially burdened, “To claim that the people are burdened is not true. Secondly, to say that MPs are now destitute — I don’t know how RM40,000 a month can still be considered poor.”