Audit MPs’ expenditure instead of slashing allocation, says Syed Saddiq

 

Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said he had been engaging audit firm Ernst & Young to audit his expenses since he was first elected as an MP in 2018.

PETALING JAYA: The government should audit MPs’ development expenditure instead of slashing it, says Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

Stating that auditing the MPs’ expenditure would help to promote integrity, Syed Saddiq said he had been engaging audit firm Ernst & Young since he was first elected as an MP in 2018.

In a Twitter thread, the Muda president also hoped that Putrajaya would reconsider its decision to slash the development allowance for MPs by nearly 70% from RM3.8 million to RM1.3 million.

“The money is not a salary or allowances for MPs but to be used in fixing damaged school toilets, replacing old mosque roofs, and to be given out as aid for the poor,” he said.

Last Friday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced a cut in the development allowances for MPs from RM3.8 million to RM1.3 million in order to better control the nation’s finances. He said the move would be implemented in stages.

However, Anwar said Putrajaya would consider providing additional allocation if there were pressing needs – such as to maintain infrastructure – in the constituencies.

Parliamentarians across the political divide reacted negatively to the announcement, stating that it would affect their service to their constituents – especially for those serving in large and rural constituencies.

In the Twitter thread, Syed Saddiq also said he met Titiwangsa MP Johari Ghani, who is also the chairman of the Government Backbenchers Club (BBC), to discuss issues such as the economy, wages, and purchasing power.

Syed Saddiq said the BBC was the right channel for government MPs to raise their concerns and discuss ideas, adding that it was also a good platform to unite MPs from various parties.

“We agreed that the nation’s progress and good governance go beyond partisan politics,” he added. - FMT