KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated that he had never imposed strict conditions on the allocation for opposition members of Parliament (MP), including forcing any MP to declare support for him.
He said he had only asked opposition lawmakers to engage in discussions with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof on development allocations for their respective constituencies.
"Negotiate first. I have never put any condition (that MPs) must support the Prime Minister (to get development allocations)," he said during Prime Minister Question Time in Dewan Rakyat today.
Anwar said those who were now in the opposition were part of the government during Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's administration, where they engaged with the then-opposition for the same reason.
"They know the process of negotiating, but now it is as if they do not know (the process) at all," he said, adding that there was still no formal discussion made by the opposition bloc.
Anwar was responding to a supplementary question by Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (Perikatan Nasional-Arau) on the issue of development allocation for opposition MPs.
He said it was unreasonable for the opposition to refuse to engage in negotiations, especially when they desired a spirit of democracy in the country.
Earlier, Anwar had told PN MPs not to have "delirious thoughts" about taking over the government, saying that their own MPs had declared support for his Madani-led unity government.
This included PN's Bukit Gantang MP, Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal who openly announced his support for Anwar in Parliament today.
"I understand Kota Baru (Datuk Seri Takiyuddin of Pas) is very angry with Bukit Gantang.
"Every month (they) talk about taking the government, (yet) every month there are members leaving… this means you should stop having delirious thoughts about wanting to take over the government."
Anwar said there was nothing wrong with Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz's question asking if the Prime Minister was ready to accept more opposition MPs to help the government address public wellbeing concerns.
Takiyuddin had described the Bukit Gantang MP as "strange", and also questioned Pakatan Harapan's election manifesto last year, when it promised to provide equal allocation for all MPs regardless of political affiliation.
"Do you agree when I say that the constituency development funds (CDF) is for that purpose, and not given to constituencies supporting the government?
"Shouldn't the allocation be given for the benefit of the constituency and constituents regardless of political affiliation, and not used as a tool to flatter, praise, and I apologise for using this word… bootlick?" he asked.
In response, Anwar questioned what allocation the opposition MPs, who were in power for three years before him, had given to the people.
He said the opposition had accused those in the government of being against Islam, and that there were "no more" Malay leaders in power.
"You read the Quran, (you say) you have to give (allocation) to all MPs. In those three years (in power) did you give allocations equally?
"What Quran are you referring to? Don't use the Quran for falsehood. If you were consistent, I would respect you.
"If you say that there was no corruption, no gambling, and you gave allocation, I will salute you, but this did not happen.
"You can shout all you want but you cannot deny reality," added Anwar.