KUALA LUMPUR: Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has hit out at the government for taking a “no action, talk only” approach when it comes to reforms.

The Muar MP said many promises of reforms that have been long-postponed, apart from the separation of powers between the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor.

He also pointed out the issue of equal allocations for both government and opposition lawmakers.

“After a series of discussions, there are still no allocations (for Opposition MPs). Government MPs get between RM3.8mil to RM4.5mil whereas the Opposition gets zero.

“This means that it's the people who will be punished for their political choices,” he told a press conference in Parliament on Monday (Sept 18).

Syed Saddiq also questioned whether Cabinet members will be declaring their assets.

“It’s been eight months and this has not been done yet,” he said.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said asset declarations by ministers must be a truly transparent and responsible process.

To ensure this, the Prime Minister said he is working with the relevant agencies, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), to see how the process can be further improved.

When Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad took over the administration in 2018, he had directed his ministers to reveal their assets.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin also asked the same during his premiership.

When Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was prime minister, he went a step further to include the judiciary and chief executives of government-linked companies and government-linked investment companies to declare their assets to the MACC.

Separately, Syed Saddiq also claimed the government had gone back on its word when it came to fighting corruption and not dropping any ongoing court cases.

“These are things within your control.

“The people feel that good governance is a lie as there are many opportunities to carry out such efforts, yet none have been done.

“I have stated my stance since early on, then I will give my commitment when it comes to ensuring a two-thirds majority for reforms,” he said.

On Sept 10, Syed Saddiq dropped a bombshell saying Muda would be pulling out of the unity government but pledged to support Bills which require a two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

The Muda president said the party’s decision was to protest the discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) granted to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in the Yayasan Akalbudi case.

Without Muda, the unity government will be one seat short of a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/09/18/no-action-talk-only-says-syed-saddiq-on-govt-approach-to-reforms