Putrajaya to meet Selangor opposition state reps, who may be allocated Covid-19 fund

CORONAVIRUS | All 13 opposition and independent state assemblypersons in Selangor are expected to meet senior minister Mohamed Azmin Ali in Putrajaya this evening to discuss the Covid-19 funding issue.

A source told Malaysiakini that the Perikatan Nasional government is expected to allocate additional funding for the Selangor opposition state representatives as part of the stimulus package, which is slated to be unveiled tomorrow.

This came following the announcement by the Pakatan Harapan-led Selangor government on Monday that the RM30,000 special Covid-19 allocation announced in the state economic stimulus package last week would not be given directly to opposition assemblypersons.

Instead, the allocation going to opposition-held constituencies is to be managed by “constituency coordinators” appointed by the state government. It maintained this was not a new practice.

"I can confirm that we are going to have a meeting with Azmin," Selangor Opposition Leader Rizam Ismail (above) said when contacted.

However, Rizam said, the meeting was about Covid-19, but he wasn't sure what would be discussed then.

Rizam, who is the Sungai Air Tawar assemblyperson, added that he would bring up the issue related to the Covid-19 allocation during the meeting.

He wished that the federal government would set aside a sum for the opposition lawmakers in Selangor and this would be announced in the second stimulus package.

"I cannot tell how much (of money I expect), just let them do the assessment. We wish to have a sufficient (allocation)," he said.

He said he had forked out his own money to buy food for the poor and needy at the villages as traders no longer travel to the kampung to sell goods.

He said Harapan state lawmakers were given RM30,000 to aide their constituents during this testing period, but the opposition lawmakers used their own money.

The first stimulus package, worth RM20 billion, was announced by the then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Feb 27 to help the industry related to tourism, which hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak.

Many have looked at the second stimulus package as a resolution for Malaysians in general who are affected by the movement control order, the partial lockdown effort to combat the sharp increase of Covid-19. - Mkini