KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has proposed a seven-point cross-party framework for bipartisan cooperation that will be implemented by the government following the passing of the vote of confidence.

He said the first was the allocation of RM300,000 to all members of parliament to allow them to purchase and distribute food baskets and to provide equal annual allocation to all MPs across party lines.

"For opposition MPs, the allocation for this year will be rolled out on a pro rata basis," he said in a televised address today.

Secondly, he said, was in accordance to the whole-of-government and the whole-of-society approach involving the finance minister who had held engagement sessions with various groups, including opposition parties to gather their input and suggestions to improve the National Recovery Plan. 

"Based on the suggestions received, the government will also present a proposal in Parliament to raise the ceiling value for the Covid-19 Fund from RM65 billion to RM110 billion.

"In order to tackle the Covid-19 health crisis, additional allocation will be provided to improve and expedite testing, tracing and isolating of close contacts and positive cases.

"The government will also bolster the healthcare system by increasing healthcare workers and enhancing the capacity of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) wards by outsourcing patients from public hospitals to private hospitals, in accordance with the whole-of-nation approach."

Muhyiddin said the government would also disburse funds worth RM10 billion to 11 million recipients in the second half of 2021.

"The cash aids will continue in 2022, not only for the B40 income group and also in the form of targeted assistance for the hardcore poor, urban poor and those from M40 income group who have lost their jobs."

Thirdly, if the government secures a two-third majority in Parliament, Muhyiddin said a new bill would be proposed to set a two-term limit for the prime minister post, as well as a bill on anti-party hopping laws.

The fourth, he said, would bolster parliamentary reforms by ensuring that special select committees have a more balanced representation of government and opposition MPs.

"The number of special select committees can also be increased so that all MPs can play a more effective check-and-balance role through their participation in these committees."

As an acknowledgement of the importance of their check-and-balance role, Muhyiddin said 50 per cent of special select committees will be chaired by government MPs while the other half will be chaired by opposition MPs.

"The government will also provide support staff and reasonable retirement benefits for all chairmen of the special select committees," he said.

For the fifth, Muhyiddin said the government had agreed to implement the lowering of voting age to 18 (Undi 18) without waiting for the automatic voter registration process, if he manages to secure bipartisan support.

Sixth, he said the government would only table a Supply Bill in Parliament after garnering a majority support from the MPs.

The seventh proposal would involve retirement benefits and privileges to the opposition leader similar to those of a senior minister, in recognition of the opposition's role in the Dewan Rakyat that has almost equal number of representatives as the government.

Muhyiddin said he would officially invite all political party leaders to discuss the proposals next week.

If the proposals for bipartisan cooperation were agreed upon, said Muhyiddin, he would call for a special Dewan Rakyat sitting to table the vote of confidence and determine his legitimacy as the prime minister.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/08/717851/pm-outlines-seven-proposals-cross-party-bipartisan-cooperation