Don't punish rakyat, give equal funds to all lawmakers - Hassan

PARLIAMENT | The opposition lawmakers now have support from Hassan Karim (Harapan-Pasir Gudang) in calling for the equal allocation of constituency funds for parliamentarians across the board.

While debating the Budget 2023 in the Dewan Rakyat today, Hassan (above) cited the example of MPs dealing with floods in their constituencies without any government allocation.

“Imagine the floods in Mersing. The Mersing MP is not given allocation while other MPs are. So how can he (Mersing MP) give help to the rakyat to some extent (in his constituency)?

“Not all of us MPs are rich, isn’t it? I cannot (accept) that it is okay for us (to get allocation) but for the opposition, you figure it out yourself.

“This should not be done. It must be fair,” he added.

He urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to “do the right thing” and amend legislation to make it automatic to dispense equal allocation to all lawmakers, regardless of whether they are from the ruling party or the opposition.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim

“Equal (allocation), what is the problem? If Tambun (Anwar) can do this, it would be great. We will support it, I am sure many people will support this.

“If we want to call it reform or change or whatever, the point is we have to do this. Let’s not betray or make victims out of the rakyat,” Hassan said.

For example, he added, he has family members who support Perikatan Nasional (PN) but there is no need to punish them for that.

Praise from opposition bench

Hassan’s calls for equal allocation earned him praise from the opposition bench, with Muhammad Islahuddin Abas (PN-Mersing) standing up to thank Hassan for his message.

Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (PN-Pengkalan Chepa) also expressed his respect for Hassan during the latter’s speech.

“We are here today to debate the budget for this year and the ones invited include the opposition MPs.

“So if we opposition MPs debate (the budget) and it is approved, but then we are denied (allocation), this is a very obvious injustice. So I really respect Pasir Gudang,” Marzuk said.

A number of PN MPs had previously lambasted the government for not providing constituency funds to opposition lawmakers.

This includes Kota Bharu MP Takiyuddin Hassan, Arau MP Shahidan Kassim and Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad.

Previously, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Armizan Mohd Ali said parliamentarians can request for special allocations for their constituencies from the government.

If they have yet to receive their allocation, lawmakers can go through the respective party chief whips to negotiate with the prime minister, he said. - Mkini