Kota Belud MP: Constituency funding crucial for rural areas

 

PARLIAMENT | Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Warisan-Kota Belud) said the needs of rural dwellers differ from those living in urban areas.

Referring to the cut in federal funding for MPs, she said such a measure would render elected representatives of rural areas unable to quickly resolve constituency problems.

Citing an example, Isnaraissah (above) said that schools in rural areas usually request items such as tables and chairs - a request she claimed could not be made to the relevant ministry.

“Why do they (constituents) prefer to request it from the MP instead? Because it is an urgent need.

“Requesting (for aid) from an MP is faster than requesting it from the ministries.

“There is so much bureaucracy, accept the reality that not everyone leads easy lives,” Isnaraissah told the Dewan Rakyat today, adding that constituents in rural areas even request money for fares to go to the nearest hospital.

“Don’t think that the needs of the constituents in Kota Belud and Kuala Lumpur are the same,” she stressed.

On Feb 2, Malaysiakini reported that MPs may have their 2023 constituency allocations reduced by over 70 percent, from RM3.8 million to RM1.3 million.

It is believed that the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU), a division of the Prime Minister’s Department (PMD), advised government MPs in early January that their service centre funds would remain at RM300,000.

Ready to be audited

Backbenchers were also informed by the ICU that outright grants (OG) will be reduced from RM 1.5 million to RM 1 million.

Government funding for MPs peaked in recent years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Apart from a fixed RM300,000 for running service centres, the government used to provide RM1.5 million which MPs can use as grants for groups, associations and NGOs operating in their constituency.

An additional RM2 million was allocated for “project mesra rakyat” (people-friendly projects), which usually refer to funding for infrastructure.

In all, government MPs up to the end of 2022 could access up to RM3.8 million in government funding per annum - through the ICU under the Prime Minister’s Department.

On that note, Isnaraissah said that if there was an issue of misappropriation of funds by the MPs, the government could conduct regular audits.

“We are ready to provide documentation and reports.

“If we are found guilty, then reprimand us, there is nothing to be scared about,” she said. - Mkini