BANGI: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has dismissed claims that the government is imposing conditions on the Opposition for allocations.
He said that discussions should take place without baseless accusations.
"They have already accused us of forcing them to support the prime minister before discussions even began – but there were never any conditions imposed," Anwar said during a press conference here on Saturday (Feb 22).
When asked if he should personally negotiate with the Opposition as suggested by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, Anwar said that the responsibility had been entrusted to Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
"We have given the mandate to Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah to meet with them.
"But for more than two years, they have been evasive. We have no issues – we have given them space and shown them due respect," Anwar said.
He added that while he is open to meeting with Opposition MPs, negotiations are being conducted based on a collective decision made by the Cabinet and all parties in the government.
Anwar pointed out that similar engagements between the government and opposition had taken place in the past, including discussions between representatives from Pakatan Harapan and the previous administration.
"At the final stage, I even met with then-prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
"These meetings did not happen just once or twice – there were at least five or six discussions and I personally met Ismail Sabri at least three times to resolve matters amicably," he explained.
He said that the government remains open to dialogue with the Opposition and urged all parties to engage in discussions without prematurely making allegations.
