IPOH, Dec 23 — The Perak government’s move to continue providing allocation for all the 59 members of the State Assembly (ADUNs) and its Speaker, as well as an equal allocation for all their service centres, reflected a spirit of democracy and political maturity.

Teja State Assembly member, Sandrea Ng Shy Ching, of PKR, said it proves that the government respects the rights of the people in all the state constituencies and its commitment to work with all parties, including the opposition, for the well-being of the state and the people.

"Prior to this, State Assembly members from the opposition were given the allocation after Pakatan Harapan signed the Confidence and Supply Agreement (CSA) with the government, which is one of the conditions for the government to distribute allocations equally.

"Now, without the CSA. they (opposition) still get an equal allocation,” she said when contacted by Bernama here today.

Ng, who chairs the Perak Housing and Local Government Committee, said the increase in allocation for members of the State Executive Council (Exco) would enable them to carry out their tasks more effectively and efficiently.

Yesterday, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, when tabling the 2023 State Budget announced an allocation of R300,000 per year for the ADUNs and the Speaker for the implementation of small infrastructure projects and programmes, apart from RM0.04 million for implementation of programmes for four major festivals.

Saarani also announced that the allocation for the ADUNs’ Service Centres will be continued at a rate of RM7,000 per month, involving an allocation of about RM5 million a year for all 59 service centres.

Meanwhile, Sungai Manik Assemblyman Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharuddin, of Bersatu, said he welcomed the move by the state government in continuing to provide the allocation for all State Assembly members.

"It can help the ADUNs in looking after the interests of their respective constituents, especially those in need of immediate financial assistance,” he said. — Bernama