160% increase in allocations for reps

Barisan Nasional's assemblymen's healthcare is far more important than the welfare of the poor, aged and disabled in Sabah.

KOTA KINABALU: While governing the poorest state in the country may be a daunting task for some, the Sabah government on the other hand believes in affording the best for its elected representatives.

The Barisan Nasional packed state assembly under Chief Minister Musa Aman this week lavished further incentives and promised more for state representatives.

The Umno-led BN state government passed a supplementary budget on Monday to increase the current allocation by 160%.

They added an additional RM1 million for the state assemblymen’s medical expenses bringing the budget to RM2.66 million.

Each assemblyman is now allocated RM3,702.70 a month as medical expenses up from RM1,388 per month previously.

Musa on Monday also defended his government’s plan to build an administration complex costing close to RM400 million in the city.

The only state representatives crying foul were the motley crew of opposition members, with Sri Tanjong assemblyman Jimmy Wong calling it a “wastage, if not an abuse of the public money”.

The outspoken opposition assemblyman who has been a thorn in the side of the government said there was a time and place for everything and this was not the time for the government members to be spending on themselves.

He was especially incensed over the extra allocation for medical expenses of state assemblyman.

Government must be transparent

Speaking to reporters in a news conference held here a day after the sitting, he pointed out that in the state Budget tabled last year, the government allocated a RM1 million for the state assemblymen’s medical expenses which is equivalent to RM1,388 per person per month.

“From my experience, I can’t even use up my allocation of RM1,388 per month on medical bills.

“I believe that prevention is better than cure. Because of this, I do regular exercise to keep fit and stay healthy,” Wong said.

Noting that state elected representatives could only seek medical treatment from government hospitals or the Sabah Medical Centre (SMC), Wong queried the criteria the state government had used to increase the medical allowance to RM3,000 a month.

He noted that supplements and medication from the hospitals are not that costly as to consume the full amount and that the most expensive medical treatment is surgery “but we all know that no one needs to undergo surgery every month.”

Wong, who is also Sabah DAP chief said the government must be transparent about elected representatives seeking medical treatment overseas and who are claiming expenses from the allocation.

He said there was no other reason why the medical allocation is so high.

Largest supplementary budget in Malaysia

Pointing out that the state government was already in trouble over its inability to honour its monthly welfare cheques to the needy, he said the amount could have been channelled for this purpose.

“If there is any balance or under-utilized allocation, it should be channeled to the less fortunate and senior citizens.

“This will be a meaningful contribution from the legislators.

“The old folks should not be forgotten as they were the ones who help build this nation.”

Earlier, he also expressed dissatisfaction with the manner the supplementary budget for about RM1.4 billion was passed by the state assembly on Aug 22 in a record time of less than two hours.

He pointed out this state supplementary budget was the largest ever recorded in Malaysia.