PETALING JAYA: The government-initiated memorandum of understanding (MOU) on funds for the Opposition remains a point of contention, with Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pic) saying it was targeted at silencing MPs. 

“It bars us from speaking out on 3R (race, religion and royalty) and LGBT issues,” said the Perikatan Nasional chairman.

He said the MOU had a “hidden agenda to curb the freedom of MPs from being the voice of the voters who have chosen them to be their representatives in the Dewan Rakyat”.

“For example, the MOU has a chapter especially on 3R issues that bars MPs from speaking out on them. Raising these issues is deemed as spewing hatred.

“This is not right. This country was built upon an understanding between the races or the social contract, which was then incorporated into the Federal Constitution,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Muhyiddin added that the special privilege of the Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak as well as the legal rights of other races (Article 53), Islam as the official religion (Article 3), Bahasa Malaysia as the national language (Article 152), the King as the head of the nation and formation of the Rulers’ Conference (Articles 32 and 38), and the right of all individuals to practise their religions (Article 11) are the basis on which Malaysia was formed and protected under the Federal Constitution.

“What right does Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional have to stop Perikatan MPs from fighting for the rights stated in the Constitution?” he said.

He added that the MOU would stop Perikatan MPs from making statements that are “discriminatory to any other parties based on religion, race, or any other identity factors”.

“This identity includes LGBT groups. Does this mean that if Perikatan MPs agree to the MOU, we cannot speak up on any policies or laws that may be enacted by the Pakatan-Barisan government in the future?”

He claimed that the MOU was against the values of Malaysians.

“Allocations for Opposition MPs need not be made through any agreements or MOU,” he added.

On Sunday, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin said Perikatan MPs had rejected the draft of the MOU, claiming that it was unconstitutional.

This prompted Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof into releasing two drafts of the MOU, saying that it outlined the government’s obligations, while acknowledging the role of Opposition MPs by displaying loyalty to the country, the Federal Constitution and the royal institution.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/09/18/mou-meant-to-silence-us