Don’t talk if you don’t know, Fahmi tells Wan Fayhsal

Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil responds to Bersatu Youth chief’s claim that a draft document on constituency funds was sent to the opposition leader.

(FMT) – Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil has denied a Bersatu MP’s claim that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim supplied opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin a draft agreement on constituency funds through a “representative”.

Fahmi, who is also communications minister, said he has checked with the Prime Minister’s Office and the chief secretary to the government on the matter and they have confirmed there is no such draft.

He added that several political secretaries to government leaders whom he has contacted have given him the same answer.

“I feel that if the Machang MP doesn’t know anything, he should just keep his mouth shut,” he told a press conference at Parliament today.

Earlier, Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said the issuance of the draft was kept under wraps from everyone, including deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof who had denied the existence of such a document yesterday.

Fahmi suggested that perhaps Wan Fayhsal felt “compelled to save the situation” given Fadillah’s denial of the existence of the draft.

“If there was indeed a draft that was given by the prime minister’s representative, then why was it not brought forth (by the opposition) during their meeting with the deputy prime minister?”

Wan Fayhsal was responding to Sungai Petani MP Dr Taufiq Johari, who criticised the opposition for issuing statements while negotiations on constituency funds were still ongoing.

“Before any agreement or detailed discussion has taken place, (the opposition) has started spreading false stories,” said Taufiq, who slammed “the other side” over the alleged “fake news”.

Fadillah, who is also the government’s chief whip in the Dewan Rakyat, yesterday said no draft document was submitted or received during his meeting with Hamzah on March 19.

He said the meeting was merely a discussion to hear the opposition’s requests and offers.

Fadillah challenged Hulu Terengganu MP Rosol Wahid of Bersatu, who had spoken of a draft agreement, to request a copy from the opposition leader.

Hamzah was reported to have said on March 22 that the opposition had received a draft document detailing matters related to negotiations on allocations for opposition MPs.

RM206.78 million for SMART 600 project in Sarawak

Separately, Fahmi said RM206.78 million would be spent in three years by the economy ministry, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), and telecommunications companies on the SMART 600 project in Sarawak, aimed at enhancing mobile broadband coverage in the state.

He said telcos would spend RM29.1 million on the project each year, while MCMC will provide RM42.9 million for the first year. The finance ministry will allocate RM38.2 million for the second and third years respectively.

Fahmi said as of March 22, out of the 600 towers in the state, only 169 were capable of providing 4G services. Other towers are currently in the process of being upgraded, undergoing construction or being relocated to new sites.