Perikatan Nasional (PN) has distanced itself from the confidence and supply agreement (CSA) signed by former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin and several opposition MPs, insisting the deal does not represent the coalition’s official position.
PN secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said the six Bersatu MPs involved had made their own decisions, rather than acting on behalf of the opposition coalition.
He stressed that PN had neither participated in negotiations nor been involved in the signing of the agreement.
“The CSA was their personal choice as MPs. Coincidentally, those taking part in the CSA are not actively involved in PN, namely the six Bersatu MPs, six former Bersatu MPs and Muda’s sole MP (Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman).
“PN is not involved in negotiations and the signing of the CSA,” he was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia.
Takiyuddin, who is also PN’s chief whip in the Dewan Rakyat, was responding to questions about the agreement, which provides access to constituency development funds for participating opposition MPs.
Last Thursday, Muhyiddin, Syed Saddiq and five other Bersatu MPs signed the CSA, securing access to funds that government MPs have received over the past four years.
In exchange for their support, the agreement also outlined two key reforms for the government to undertake before the current parliamentary term ends: limiting the prime minister’s tenure and separating the roles of the attorney-general and public prosecutor.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said the agreement is open to all opposition MPs, while Deputy Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called for the arrangement to be extended to other opposition parties.
PN and Barisan Nasional (BN), led by Umno, are currently contesting the Melaka state election under an electoral pact. The two coalitions are also allies at the state level in Negeri Sembilan.
Bersatu’s use of own logo under scrutiny
Separately, Takiyuddin said PN component parties could contest elections using their respective party logos, but only with approval from the coalition’s top leadership.
He clarified that Bersatu had not received permission to use its own logo in the Melaka election and had not officially informed PN of its intention.
Takiyuddin said the coalition was considering whether disciplinary action should be taken against Bersatu, which remains one of its component parties.
“We’re still in the process (of looking into it),” he said.
