The Malaysian Insight

PUTRAJAYA has agreed to provide equal constituency funds to all lawmakers for the remaining four months of the year, Minister in PM’s Department (Special Functions) Mastura Mohd Yazid told the Dewan Rakyat today.

“The prime minister (Ismail Sabri Yaakob) is committed to implementing parliamentary transformations.

“For that reason, I would like to inform the Dewan Rakyat that for the remaining four months of this year, beginning September to December 2021, the prime minister has agreed to give equal constituency funds to all MPs, even the opposition members,” she said.

Mastura said this in her winding up speech in response to suggestions by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar-Independent), Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz (Padang Rengas-BN) and Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid (Kapar-PH).

The announcement by the minister comes after the government and Pakatan Harapan inked the historic memorandum of understanding (MOU) for political stability and transformation on September 13.

In the MOU, Ismail offered the opposition seven parliamentary and governance reforms, which included limiting the tenure of the prime minister to 10 years and the tabling of an anti-party hopping bill.

He also offered to give ministerial status to the opposition leader, as well as equal representation between opposition MPs and government backbenchers in parliamentary special select committees.

As for legislative improvements, Ismail proposed that all bills, including the supply bill be tabled, discussed, and mutually agreed upon in Parliament.

Ismail also offered to include opposition members in the National Recovery Council and to allow them to voice their views and proposals. – September 23, 2021.