TEMERLOH: A PAS leader has praised the rejection of the draft memorandum of understanding on allocations for Opposition MPs, saying the terms will force the acknowledgement of equal rights for all citizens.
PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said the MOU contains terms that are very dangerous to the Federal Constitution, which guarantees the position of Islam and the special rights of the bumiputra.
"The memorandum clearly states that Perikatan Nasional MPs must acknowledge equal rights for all citizens regardless of religion and race.
"No guarantees are provided regarding the position of Islam and the rights of bumiputra in the memorandum, making it a matter that is ambiguous and open to misinterpretation," Ahmad Fadhli said in a statement.
The Pasir Mas MP questioned whether Pakatan Harapan was bringing the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) back in a new form.
"Isn't Islam placed in the Constitution as the Federal religion above all other religions? Aren't bumiputra rights guaranteed in the same Constitution?
"What then is the meaning of the terms of the agreement that 'forces' Perikatan to acknowledge equal rights regardless of religion and race? Isn’t it enough to simply ask all parties to uphold the Federal Constitution as a mutually agreed document?" Ahmad Fadhli asked.
He added that the terms also "compel" Opposition MPs to avoid making "pointless objections" in Parliament.
"Who will define what is 'pointless'? If objections cannot be made, then what is the role of an MP," he said.
