Opposition MPs to govt: Where's our allocation?

 

The call was made by 32 opposition MPs including two Independent lawmakers, namely Muar MP, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (pic) and Simpang Renggam MP, Dr Maszlee Malik. NSTP/ASYRAF HAMZAH ASYRAF HAMZAH

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition members of parliament (MP) have urged the government to provide allocation for their constituencies, similar to that received by government-elected representatives.

The allocation, the opposition lawmakers said, was needed to channel and assist residents in their respective constituencies who have been burdened by job loss and diminished source of income from the impact of Covid-19 and the subsequent Movement Control Order (MCO).

The call was made by 32 opposition MPs including two Independent lawmakers, namely Muar MP, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and Simpang Renggam MP, Dr Maszlee Malik.

The group however did not list Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng as well as Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and its president, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and Parti Warisan Sabah president, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.

A joint statement pointed out that voters in opposition constituencies should not be victimised for exercising their democratic rights.

"The Perikatan Nasional (PN) government at the Federal level should emulate Johor and Perak state governments which provided allocations to every state assemblymen including those from the opposition.

"At least the Johor menteri besar sees the opposition as their strategic partner in the State Legislative Assembly when faced with a crisis like this. Allocation to opposition assemblymen has also been done for a long time in Selangor and Penang," the statement read.

The group of lawmakers also called upon PN government to use an approach involving the 'whole government' and 'the whole society' when it comes to handling the current Covid-19 crisis.

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

The allocation was also in line with the prime minister's recommendation when announcing the state of emergency, where he wanted all politicians to set aside differences and stand in solidarity with the people in the face of the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and the implementation of the MCO 2.0. - NST