Bersih censures Anwar over unequal constituency funds, defections
Bersih said such a failure led to the Bersatu MPs for Kuala Kangsar, Labuan, Gua Musang, and Jeli declaring their support for Anwar’s leadership and the federal government while citing the need for funding for their constituencies.
“The Madani government’s withholding of...
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) has expressed its utmost disappointment in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim over failing to ensure equal distribution of Constituency Development Funds (CDF) to MPs.
Bersih said such a failure led to the Bersatu MPs for Kuala Kangsar, Labuan, Gua Musang, and Jeli declaring their support for Anwar’s leadership and the federal government while citing the need for funding for their constituencies.
“The Madani government’s withholding of CDF allocations from being distributed to Perikatan Nasional MPs is unfair because the funds are given only to those who support the government.
“Bersih disagrees that CDF allocations to opposition MPs be made conditionally when all MPs should be entitled to such allocations, whichever party they belong to.
“The opposition MPs are also chosen by the people and hence the Madani government must respect the choice of the voters in those constituencies.
“It should refrain from using CDFs as bargaining chips to obtain support from opposition representatives,” said the electoral watchdog in a statement this evening.
It said the ‘defecting’ MPs’ statements of support for the federal government show the tragic political reality that exists in Malaysia today - those who support the government receive funding, those who do not are refused funding.
“Bersih has always objected to such unfair distribution of CDFs while Pakatan Harapan, under their GE15 manifesto, agreed to eliminate such malpractice, which started during the days of the BN administration and continued during the PN administration.
“Bersih reiterates our call to the Madani government and PN to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in bringing about institutional reforms that ensure political stability and a level playing field for all parties, just like the MOU that was agreed between the Keluarga Malaysia government of Ismail Sabri (Yaakob) and Harapan on Sept 13, 2021,” it added.
Govt-opposition MOU
Bersih expressed the belief that such an MOU would enable the government and opposition to work together and compete professionally, to overcome national economic challenges and improve the people’s well-being.
It suggested that, aside from codifying laws for equitable distribution of CDFs to all MPs and state representatives, the MOU may also list other items such as public funding for all parties according to the percentage of votes received, recognising a shadow cabinet, deepening parliamentary reformation, the Fixed Term Parliament Act, as well as the separation of the office of the Public Prosecutor from the Attorney General’s Chambers.
“If both the Madani government and PN are reluctant to take the first step in moving negotiations for the MOU, both parties could request assistance from Dewan Negara president Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who contributed to the implementation of institutional reforms in the 2021-2022 MOU, and also Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul, as honest brokers in facilitating negotiations,” said Bersih.
Why Bersih only pressuring Anwar? Anwar has already said that if oppo is willing to sign CSA then allocation is no issue! The ball is really with the oppo, not the unity govt!