Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. -filepic
PORT DICKSON: The Opposition will continue to work with the government on issues of governance and corruption although the Prime Minister has said there will be no new memorandum of understanding (MOU) between both sides, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said although the Opposition was ready to face a general election, there were several pressing issues that still needed to be addressed which include reviving the economy and addressing the increasing cost of living and prices of goods.
The Port Dickson MP said the government's priority now was to manage the economy and stimulate growth to help reduce the peoples' burden.
"The MOU between both sides would have lapsed if a general election was held before July 31.
"So, there is no issue actually...we (the Opposition) will continue to talk to the Prime Minister to look at the other issues that have yet to be resolved," he said when met at an event here.
Anwar said the Opposition was glad that the anti-hopping Bill, which was one of the proposals raised by the Opposition with the PM in the MOU, had been tabled in Parliament.
However, the Opposition, he said, was unhappy with the increase in prices of goods and other household stuff, cost of living as well as the alleged mismanagement of public funds.
"Every day, we hear about the exposure of public funds which have been poorly managed.
"Ministers are still doing as they wished, spending huge sums of money which do not really bring any benefit (to the people)," he said.
Anwar said he was surprised why some quarters were actually pressing for an election to be held soon when the people were suffering.
On July 28, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said there will be no new MOU between the Federal Government and the Opposition, but both will still work together for the sake of the rakyat.
The Prime Minister said Umno would not be extending the current political MOU past the July 31 deadline.
However, Ismail Sabri said he had met with leaders of the Opposition and whether or not there was a written MOU, was not important.
Instead, he said what mattered most was that the issues stated in the MOU were resolved.
Ismail Sabri also said both Umno and the Opposition had agreed on the need for a political funding law and on separating the roles of the public prosecutor and Attorney General, which are issues in the MOU.
On Sept 14, 2021, the government and Opposition leaders signed a historic MOU in Parliament, which paved the way for a bipartisan and consensual approach in bringing stability and reform for the nation.
The MOU covers six areas – empowering the Covid-19 plan, administrative transformation, rejuvenation of Parliament, independence of judicial institutions, issues involving the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the setting up of a steering committee.
