The Malaysian Insight

PRIME Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has promised to enact an anti-hopping law and carry out parliamentary reforms if he survives the confidence vote in Parliament next month.

“I wish to make these suggestions across party lines if the confidence vote is approved,” said Muhyiddin during a last-minute live telecast on national television at 6pm today.

“We will amend the federal constitution to limit the term of the prime minister to two and enact an anti-hopping law if he can get two-thirds support in Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara.

“The government will also strengthen Parliament reforms by ensuring equal representation of opposition and government MPs in Parliament’s select committees.

“Half of the select committees will be chaired by the government MPs while the other half will be headed by opposition MPs.

“The government will provide sufficient support staff and funding for members of these committees.”

He said the government is also prepared to allow more select committees if needed.

The beleaguered prime minister has also suggested increasing the Covid-19 fund by RM45 billion to RM110 billion to help finance the national recovery plan.

He said the additional funds will be used to increase intensive care unit (ICU) capacity and outsourcing of patients from public to private hospitals.

He said the government will also provide a RM10 billion cash aid for 11 million recipients for the second half of 2021.

“This aid can be given to those who still need it next year. It will not be limited to B40 but also M40 who have lost their incomes.”

The 74-year-old also promised to consult with opposition parties before the national budget is prepared.

“And finally, the government will acknowledge the role of the opposition in Parliament. The opposition leader will be given an allowance and facilities equal to a senior minister,” said Muhyiddin.

He said the government had already given RM300,000 allocations to all MPs for food baskets recently regardless of party affiliation but needed another RM45 billion for the Covid-19 fund.

“For the opposition MPs, the same allocations will be given for the remaining months.”

Prior to this, the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government only gave federal allocations to MPs supporting it.

Muhyiddin also said the finance minister will discuss with all the opposition party leaders to obtain their input for the national recovery plan.

The prime minister is believed to be making a last-ditch offer to the opposition to remain in power after Umno withdrew as many as 14 MPs from supporting him last week.

Prior to this, Muhyiddin had formed the government after toppling the Pakatan Harapan government by getting as many as 25 MPs to cross over to Bersatu from Umno and PKR.

The Muhyiddin administration had similarly got more than a dozen Sabah state assemblymen to resign from their parties and topple the Warisan-led Sabah government last year, prompting a state election.

Prior to this offer, the PN government had rejected the offer of a confidence and supply agreement with the opposition last year when it had a slim majority of 115 MPs in the Dewan Rakyat during the tabling of Budget 2021.

And up until today, the PN government has also rejected other offers of cooperation with the opposition at the federal and state levels in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and has only decided to go for a bipartisan approach after Muhyiddin lost majority support of MPs last week.

Muhyiddin is believed to have only 100 MPs backing him after 14 Umno MPs withdrew their support for him in the 220-seat Dewan Rakyat. – Bernama, August 13, 2021.