Muhyiddin urged to emulate Perak, Johor on allocations for opposition MPs

 

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has been urged emulate the Perikatan Nasional (PN) state governments of Johor and Perak in providing equal or bigger allocations to the opposition lawmakers.

In a joint statement today, 32 MPs from Pakatan Harapan, PSB, Pejuang, Warisan and Muda, together with independent lawmaker Maszlee Malik, said Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad and Johor Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad had done so as they see the opposition as their strategic partners in their State Legislative Assembly in facing the Covid-19 crisis.

"Allocation to opposition assemblypersons has also been done for a long time in Selangor and Penang," they said.

This came after DAP Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh said the opposition MPs are not given any constituency allocations under Budget 2021.

Yeoh made the statement after Umno president and Bagan Datuk MP Ahmad Zahid Hamidi revealed that Umno MPs are given only RM100,000 in allocations while their counterparts in the PN government are set to receive RM3.7 million this year.

The opposition MPs said Muhyiddin, in announcing the nationwide state of emergency on Jan 12, had urged all politicians to set aside their differences and to stand in solidarity with the people to tackle the third wave of Covid-19.

'Take extraordinary action to deal with Covid-19'

"He also stated that politics must also be responsible. As such, we demand that the prime minister's promise on responsible politics (be fulfilled) by channelling the allocations to all the opposition MPs," they said.

They also urged the Perikatan Nasional government to take extraordinary action to deal with Covid-19, including providing allocations for the opposition MPs, so that the money could be used to help people who are burdened by job losses and sources of income.

"The people from the opposition constituencies should not become the victim of their democratic decisions and rights," they said.

The PN government should adopt the approach involving the 'whole government' and 'the whole society' in handling the worsening Covid-19 crisis today, the MPs added.

"All parties need to mobilise their energy and resources to fight the Covid-19 pandemic together and immediately channel allocations to all, including the opposition MPs."

The joint statement was issued by Darell Leiking (Warisan-Penampang), Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar), Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Bandar Kuching), Baru Bian (PSB-Selangau), Salahuddin Ayub (Amanah-Pulai), Amiruddin Hamzah (Pejuang-Kubang Pasu) and Sim Tze Tzin (PKR-Bayan Baru).

Under the Pakatan Harapan federal administration, a government MP could apply for up to RM3.5 million a year in allocations while the opposition MP could only apply for up to RM100,000 a year in allocation from the federal government.

This RM3.5 million is split into RM2 million for development purposes while the other RM1.5 million is for grants and donation purposes.

In early 2020, East Malaysian backbencher MPs were given an additional RM500,000 on top of the RM3.5 million.

The Perak state government recently provided the opposition lawmakers equal allocations while Johor state government had given a one-off RM50,000 additional allocation to all state constituencies, including the opposition constituencies. - Mkini