Nothing unusual about Bersatu CSA deal, Anwar says, citing previous Perikatan-BN arrangement

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said the confidence and supply agreement (CSA) with Bersatu follows a mechanism previously agreed upon under the Perikatan Nasional-Barisan Nasional (PN-BN) government when he was Opposition Leader.

He said the arrangement was based on an understanding reached with the administration of former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, when Anwar was leading the Opposition.

“That was the understanding in principle, similar to what I did as Opposition Leader with the government at the time, when the government comprised Umno, PAS and Bersatu. 

“So, when they discussed and proposed the allocations, that was what was implemented. There is nothing unusual about it,” he told reporters after performing Friday prayers at Masjid Al-Muqarrabin, Bandar Tasik Selatan here.

Anwar said the current arrangement was also based on a similar understanding, stressing that parliamentary allocations had continued as usual for both government and Opposition MPs despite criticism that the government was withholding funds.

He said the mechanism was not introduced by his administration but followed the approach used by the previous government, which included Bersatu, PAS and Barisan Nasional.

“Allocations through MPs are bound by an understanding, just as was done by the Perikatan Nasional and Barisan Nasional governments when they were in power and which we signed. At that time, I was the Opposition Leader and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri was the prime minister,” he said.

Anwar described Bersatu’s agreement to the arrangement as a positive development, adding that other parties were also free to participate if they agreed to the same mechanism.

He said the allocations would be based on the current Budget and could be channelled by the end of this year after it had been debated and approved.

“Once the Budget has been debated and approved, we can channel the allocations by the end of this year in accordance with the understanding reached,” he said.

Anwar also said there were no conditions imposed on Opposition MPs under the arrangement.

“There are no conditions imposed on any Opposition MP. There are no conditions,” he said.

Bersatu signed the CSA with the government yesterday, with party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin saying its MPs would receive the same constituency development allocations as government backbenchers.

In return, the seven Opposition MPs involved in the agreement pledged support for Anwar’s administration until the end of the parliamentary term, as well as the Supply Bill 2027.

Muhyiddin had also stressed that Bersatu would remain in the Opposition and continue to perform its role of providing checks and balances.