KUALA LUMPUR — The draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the government and the opposition was intended to initiate discussions between both parties and was not meant to be final, government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said.
As such, the door to negotiations remain open despite Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) rejection of the document, Fahmi, who is also Communications Minister, added.
“If you want to continue discussions, come. Don’t be scared as we’re ready to talk,” he said during the Communications Ministry’s monthly assembly this morning.
Noting PN’s objection to conditions in the MoU such as avoiding 3R (race, religion, royalty) issues and declaring their assets, he said these clauses were meant to ensure that the opposition participates constructively in Parliament.
These conditions are also a beginning or starting point for healthy discussions and negotiations between the government and opposition.
“The draft was for the purposes of discussion, (it’s) not final,” said Fahmi, who is Lembah Pantai MP.
If the opposition refuses to agree to the MoU, they would be going against their own rhetoric on improving conditions for people in their constituencies, he added.
However, this is not the first time the opposition has rejected the government’s offers or invitations.
“I am disappointed with the opposition leader (Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin), as we have invited them to many events, including national day celebrations.
“I’m sad because they did not reply to our invitations.
“We are reaching out to them for the purposes of democracy and the good of the people, but we are ignored, and then they play victim,” Fahmi said.
Various PN leaders have issued statements on why the coalition rejects the draft MoU on parliamentary allocations, with their concerns revolving chiefly around the condition not to speak on 3R issues and to accept the equality of all citizens before the law.
PN has said these conditions are aimed at muzzling them from speaking about Malay-Muslim interests besides violating the Federal Constitution on the special position of Malays and Islam. – September 20, 2024