OPPOSITION MPs want their voices to be heard and not just to make up the numbers, if they are invited to attend official government meetings.

Responding to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s announcement that he was considering the possibility of inviting members of the opposition to sit in the Covid-19 and Economic Action Council meetings, Amanah communications director Khalid Samad said Muhyiddin must be ready to accept suggestions from the opposition.

“Will he accept ideas from the opposition during the meeting or will he just listen to what they have to say?

“If he is not going to accept suggestions from the opposition, then he might as well not invite us at all,” he said.

Muhyiddin, who chairs both meetings, had said: “I want to be inclusive. I would like to have the opposition to be in the council that I myself chair, or maybe in my daily Covid-19 briefing.

“This is not about giving credit to them, but I would like to hear from the opposition on their suggestions and if they can bring good ideas for the people’s benefit,” said the Pagoh MP.

Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh said that any effort to include the opposition must be inclusive.

“I think any bipartisan effort to help Malaysians is definitely welcome but these efforts must be in form as well as substance.

“The opposition’s input should be taken seriously and not just for photo-op, for Perikatan Nasional to look inclusive yet being anything but respectful of dissent.”

Sarawak PKR chief Larry Sng said he has mixed feelings towards Muhyiddin’s proposal.

“I believe the budget will not reach its target regardless of who sits in the council.

“We will miss our projected growth for next year because the government’s budget was overly optimistic.

“The global pandemic has badly disrupted the global supply chain and even if we are to find a Covid-19 vaccine, it will take time to produce and administer to 7.8 billion people across the world.

“What the government should do instead is to recognise that we can’t continue to run business as usual.

“Give government funding to all MPs so that we can jointly address all matters affecting the people.

“We should put politics aside because the only way we are going to get through this successfully is if we work together,” he said.

Set up select committee

Meanwhile, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said Muhyiddin should implement his suggestion immediately and not after Budget 2021 is put to vote in Parliament.

“I certainly will not support Muhyiddin’s budget if he refuses to recast it to reflect the real economy crisis amid Covid-19 pandemic and to genuinely help those who are in desperate need of financial help,” said the DAP lawmaker.

Klang MP Charles Santiago said the government should set up a Covid-19 management select committee in Parliament.

This, he said, was crucial as issues such as Covid-19 management should be addressed in parliament.

“If the prime minister is serious then he has to embolden or empower the process of the select committee.

“For example, we have lots of money going into Covid-19 management, but, there is no select committee to monitor if the funds are going to the right target groups.”

He added that the prime minister was trying to give the impression that he wants to work with the opposition.

“Why do that? So, create a select committee and let them report to Parliament. That’s the way.” – November 8, 2020.