KOTA KINABALU: Warisan Plus leaders are grateful for the RM100,000 special allocation to opposition assemblymen by the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government although they say the amount is hardly sufficient.
Warisan vice-president Jaujan Sambakong, who is Sulabayan assemblyman, said any allocation no matter how big the amount will never be enough but noted the RM100,000 was a good starting point.
“We have called for allocations to be given to opposition MPs in the state assembly previously, hence, we welcome this approach,” the former Sabah deputy chief minister told FMT.
“We are in the opposition but it doesn’t mean we will always oppose what the government is doing.
“This fund is not for the assemblymen but for the people. Our goal is the same, which is to help the people and develop the state and country.”
Chief minister Hajiji Noor yesterday announced that 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 are able to face this pandemic with as much help as possible,” he said.
Hajiji, who is Sulaman assemblyman, added that the total RM3.1 million in funds would be channelled as soon as possible to opposition assemblymen through the respective district offices.
Sabah DAP acting chief Frankie Poon shared Sambakong’s views on the amount, saying each constituency has different needs.
He also hoped that the RM100,000 was not a one-time allocation to opposition MPs.
“This allocation is better than none at all. It is a positive step towards reconciliation in helping the people who are the ones suffering the most.
“I hope the chief minister would review the situation and needs of the people in the coming months with a view to provide additional allocation to us to ease the difficulties faced by the people,” he said.
Poon, the Tanjong Papat assemblyman, said a fairer amount would have been between RM300,000 and RM500,000 a year.
“As Penang, Selangor, Perak and Johor are already allocating to opposition reps, this is not new per se but new in Sabah. I hope this will be the new normal for all opposition assemblymen in the state,” he said.
Another former deputy chief minister, Christina Liew, thanked Hajiji for “his consideration and open-mindedness” in approving the allocation.
The Sabah PKR chief hoped the chief minister would consider topping up the sum once the opposition reps have exhausted the funds in serving their constituents.
She also reiterated her call to Hajiji to provide each opposition assemblymen with the same development funds as their government counterparts.
“This will enable the elected representatives to assist the government in the socio-economic development of the individual constituencies,” said Liew, who is the Api-Api assemblyman.
She had previously urged the state government to emulate Johor and Perak in giving opposition legislators the same development allocation and other funding as their government counterparts, during the 2021 state budget debate last year. - FMT
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