KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has defended the Confidence and Supply Agreement (CSA) signed between the federal government and opposition lawmakers, saying such arrangements are not unusual and follow precedent.
He said similar agreements had been implemented when Perikatan Nasional and Barisan Nasional were in power.
Anwar recalled that a similar understanding was reached when he was opposition leader and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was Prime Minister.
"This is not a new arrangement introduced by the current government. It was a practice adopted by the previous administration, which included Bersatu, PAS and, of course, Barisan.
"So there is nothing unusual about it. I have always maintained that there was an understanding, and we approved the allocations. Although we continue to face accusations that we are withholding allocations, that is not the case," he told reporters after Friday (Oct 30) prayers here.
Asked about political analysts' suggestions that the CSA could serve as a warning to Unity government component parties against withdrawing their support or switching allegiances, Anwar said such views were a matter of political interpretation.
"That is a political interpretation, and we cannot dispute it. It is possible, but I want to emphasise that this arrangement is not unusual. Similar understandings also exist in many democratic countries," he said.
Anwar said allocations for MPs under the agreement would be disbursed in accordance with the federal budget currently being debated in Parliament.
"Once the budget is approved, we can distribute them according to the agreement," he said.
The Prime Minister said the CSA would help strengthen political stability and ensure the smooth functioning of the government.
The agreement would also facilitate the effective implementation of national development initiatives, including Budget 2027, for the benefit of the people, he added.
On Thursday, the government signed the CSA at Parliament with six Bersatu MPs led by party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, as well as seven other MPs, including Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman. - Bernama
