Saifuddin, who is also PKR secretary-general, also slammed Penampang MP Darell Leiking’s accusations that the MoU had allowed the government to create “antagonistic racial issues” and that many PH MPs were unhappy with the MoU.
Saifuddin urged Leiking to read the agreement instead of playing the race card.
“I would advise him to read the terms of the MoU carefully – it is available publicly on the Parliament website – before making any further irresponsible statements.
“Clause 9.1 also explicitly provides that nothing in the MoU shall affect PH’s role and responsibility as the opposition in Parliament to act as a check and balance and to provide oversight of government powers,” he said in a statement today.
Saifuddin pointed to PH’s record in the Dewan Rakyat after the MoU as proof that its MPs continued to discharge their duties and responsibilities as the opposition “without fear or favour”.
“The parliamentary proceedings that followed after the MoU was signed are recorded in the Hansard.
“If Darrell himself was diligent in attending Parliament, he would have witnessed first-hand the content of these PH speeches and debates.
“There is not a single iota of evidence to support Darrell’s wild and mischievous allegations,” he said.
Saifuddin added that the MoU had enabled the first-ever bipartisan pre-budget consultations to take place.
“In particular, the MoU enabled the bipartisan approval of RM45 billion to be added to the Covid-19 Fund. The budget consultations also saw greater emphasis in helping SMEs, job creation and targeted social welfare policies.
“The MoU also provided for structural reforms, some completed and others pending,” he said.
Saifuddin expressed unhappiness with the racial issues raised by Leiking.
“While I have no issue with Warisan trying to rebrand itself as a national party, it is absolutely irresponsible for it to try to claim political mileage by alleging that PH condones the government’s racial policies.
“I would like to advise Warisan to first learn the dynamics of identity politics of Peninsular Malaysia before making wild allegations against PH.
“As for his allegations that many PH MPs are unhappy with the MoU, I urge him to disclose their names or risk being exposed as an opportunist,” he added.