KOTA KINABALU: Upko has welcomed the RM100,000 special allocation from the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government to opposition lawmakers but said a law for equal distribution of development funds is still required.
In a joint statement, three of its top leaders said the allocation was a good start towards the depoliticisation of constituency development funds (CDF).
They congratulated Chief Minister Hajiji Noor for starting to reform what they said was “a flawed practice” under the previous Barisan Nasional and Warisan Plus governments. Upko has been a part of both.
“However, Upko believes the reform can be expanded and Hajiji will be remembered by history if his government can enact legislation that ensures equitable CDF for all state assemblymen and MPs, regardless of their party affiliation.
“GRS should be more reformist than its predecessors,” said the statement which was issued by Upko president and Tuaran MP Wilfred Madius Tangau, deputy president Donald Mojuntin and vice-president Ewon Benedick, who is also the Kadamaian assemblyman.
They added that the state government presently gave a state minister an annual allocation of RM2.1 million, an assistant state minister RM1.14 million and a government backbencher RM1.1 million.
Hajiji yesterday said the allocations were to help assemblymen resolve problems in their respective constituencies and to aid the people during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I give this special allocation to prove the GRS government’s sincerity. These special funds are in line with the government’s efforts to ensure that the people can face this pandemic with as much help as possible,” he said.
Hajiji, who is also the state finance minister, said the total RM3.1 million in funds would be channelled as quickly as possible to opposition assemblymen through the respective district offices.
Meanwhile, the Upko leaders claimed the state government had stopped the monthly RM10,000 allocation given to MPs to maintain their service centres.
They claimed the funds were instead being channeled to the PPBM division chief in the 14 opposition-held MP constituencies in Sabah and Labuan.
“The RM10,000 should be given to the office of the MP elected by the people, regardless of party. Giving RM1.68 million to the 13 division chairpersons of the state government’s anchor party should be stopped.
“Upko will advocate for this reform both at state and federal level not only under the present government but also any political coalition seeking a mandate from the people to form the government in the future,” they said. -FMT
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