Amanah’s legal bureau deputy chief, Ahmad Zamri Asa’ad Khuzaimi, said PN’s reasons for rejecting the MoU are “unfounded” and “merely an attempt to placate their supporters”.

“We see PN’s rejection of the draft MoU as a tactic to continue using 3R issues to cause political instability and undermine Malaysia’s economic progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is attracting global attention with substantial investments,” he said in a statement.

On Sunday, opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin announced that PN had unanimously rejected the draft MoU.

Hamzah said the opposition received two sets of draft proposals for the MoU – one between the government and PN, and another between the government and all PN MPs.

He gave four fundamental reasons for rejecting the draft MoU, claiming it went against the Federal Constitution with conditions that touched on the special position of the Malays and Bumiputeras.

He also said the draft MoU included conditions that could be “considered as going against traditional, cultural, and moral values”, and also encroached into the issue of religion.

Zamri, however, pointed out that the MoU merely reaffirms the concept of equality before the law as guaranteed under Article 8 of the Federal Constitution as well as the position of Islam as the religion of the federation under Article 3.

He said the MoU cannot override and does not contravene Articles 152 and 153 which safeguard the special position of the Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak.

“The Conference of Rulers will also continue to uphold the special position of the Malays and Bumiputeras, the Malay language, and the rights of the monarchy under Article 38 (of the constitution),” he said.

Yesterday, deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof released the two draft MoUs on constituency funds following various concerns raised by the opposition in rejecting them.

Fadillah said he disclosed the draft documents so the public could judge for themselves the claims made by Hamzah.