KUALA LUMPUR – State assemblies held by PAS must prove its willingness to grant equal allocations to all its assemblymen, regardless of political affiliation, said Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari (Gombak-PH).
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat today, Amirudin, who is also Selangor menteri besar, took aim at PAS-governed states when pressed on whether Pakatan Harapan (PH) intends to fulfil its promise for equal allocations for government and opposition MPs, as outlined in the coalition’s manifesto.
“I am not standing in the way (of efforts towards realising equal MP allocations).
“However, (state governments in) Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu must also prove that they will give opposition assemblymen there an equal allocation.
“My focus now is on urging MPs to make Parliament their second home (so that) we can gather in this august hall to discuss and debate the structure of our nation’s policies,” he said in response to queries by Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (Sik-PN) on the matter.
Tarmizi had also questioned Amirudin, who was debating the royal address, on whether equal MP allocations are an important aspect of parliamentary reform that will help lawmakers in channelling aid to their respective constituencies.
It was previously reported that Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Baru-PAS) had urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Tambun-PH) to abide by PH’s manifesto, which pledged to provide equal constituency development funds to all MPs across the political divide.
Khoo Poay Tiong (Kota Melaka-DAP) had also supported the suggestion during his speech in the lower House last week, recalling his own experience with being denied funds when he was an opposition representative in the Melaka assembly.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (Kota Tinggi-BN) had earlier stated that while parties had made various promises pre-election, it has been the unity government’s stand to only implement manifesto pledges similarly proposed by all component entities.
Meanwhile, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar-PH) today said that the current government must do better than its predecessors, which failed to provide equal funding to MPs.
“This new Madani government is a just government. I remember when I sat on the opposition bench and I was among the last to receive funding from the (previous) government.
“I had to shave my head, hold sales, and offer free tuition (to my constituents) to ensure that they were not lacking in aid.
“It is wrong for us (the current government) to turn back and say that it is okay for us to do it (unequal MP allocations) just because (the previous government) used to do it,” he said in a supplementary question to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali (Papar-GRS).
Earlier this month, Anwar announced that MP’s development allowances will be slashed by 65% from RM3.8 million to RM1.3 million, triggering concern from MPs on the welfare of their constituencies.
However, Anwar said that the government would consider extending additional allocations if there were pressing needs in a particular parliamentary constituency, such as for repairing infrastructure. – The Vibes, February 20, 2023
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