DAP’s push for equal allocation ‘just a show’, says Wan Saiful

 The Wawasan veep says DAP’s push for equal constituency allocations is motivated by fear that it may become the opposition after the next general election.

Wawasan vice-president Wan Saiful Wan Jan said the demand for equal constituency allocations for MPs was good in principle but he questioned why DAP had only raised it now.

PETALING JAYA:

Wawasan vice-president Wan Saiful Wan Jan has accused DAP of “putting on a show” over its renewed call for equal constituency allocations for all MPs.

Wan Saiful said the demand was good in principle, but he questioned why DAP had only raised it now, more than three years into the unity government’s term.

“This demand is a good thing. But it is only for show, because if DAP were serious, why didn’t it demand this from the beginning?” he asked in a Facebook post.

Earlier today, DAP chairman Gobind Singh Deo urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to provide equal funds to all MPs and institutionalise the practice through legislation.

Gobind said DAP leaders had spoken to Anwar several times about Pakatan Harapan’s pledge to ensure equal allocations for MPs.

He welcomed the additional RM1 million allocated to all 222 parliamentary constituencies but said this did not resolve the issue.

Gobind said legislation mandating equal funding would remove political discretion from the distribution of constituency development funds and safeguard voters’ rights, regardless of their political choices or affiliations.

Wan Saiful, who is Tasek Gelugor MP, claimed DAP was only making the call now because it was worried that it would become the opposition after the 16th general election.

“That is why it only wants legislation to be introduced now to guarantee allocations. It is not out of genuine concern for the people’s interests, but simply to protect DAP’s own interests.

“They only want to prepare a ‘safety net’ for themselves. With this Act they are demanding, they feel they can continue spending the country’s money after losing the government and becoming the opposition,” he claimed.

Yesterday, the DAP gave Anwar a year-end deadline to pass reforms such as separating the roles of the attorney-general and the public prosecutor and setting a term limit on the position of prime minister, after it decided to continue in its role in the unity government. - FMT