The PKR MP today released a statement filled with praise for the ninth prime minister, saying among other things that Ismail was fair in his dealings with opposition MPs.

“As I write this, our country is abuzz online and in mainstream media about allocations for opposition MPs. Talk of a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) has come up.

“But this was not a major issue during Ismail’s leadership.

“His character as a trained lawyer who always sought justice was reflected in the allocations given to MPs, regardless of whether they were from the government or the opposition,” he said.

Perikatan Nasional had previously criticised the government’s draft MoU on allocations for opposition MPs for its “strange conditions”, with chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan saying they included requiring MPs to declare their assets and pledge support for the government until the end of the parliamentary term.

Takiyuddin said PN was still discussing whether to accept the proposed conditions and a meeting with affected MPs will be held on Monday.

Deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof had said the government would only address the issues raised after receiving a formal reply from PN on the MoU.

Meanwhile, Hassan praised Ismail for allowing the judiciary to function independently and with integrity during his time as prime minister.

“No prominent political figures were granted DNAAs (discharge not amounting to acquittal) as a reward,” he said, ostensibly a jab at the conditional discharge given to deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in his Yayasan Akalbudi graft case.

“Under the ninth prime minister, who many perceived as weak and frail, we saw the courts enforce a guilty ruling and prison sentencing, despite the accused being a former prime minister and former president of a party with more than three million members.”