PASIR GUDANG, Jan 4 — A Johor Pakatan Harapan (PH) lawmaker urged the federal government today to allow equal and fair allocations to both government and Opposition MPs.
Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim said the proposed enactment is important to enable all 222 MPs to receive their allocations fairly, without anyone being left behind, adding that voters who did not vote for the political parties representing the government coalition in the recent 15th general election (GE15) should not be punished or ignored.
"We cannot oppress the people who have voted for a particular MP and deny their rights. The government's allocation for MPs has two categories where just below one-fifth is for the management of Parliament's office while the rest is for the people.
"Parliamentary constituencies receive an allocation of over RM300 million a year where the funds are for the people and not for the personal usage of the MPs,” said Hassan to reporters here,
He said this after the Seri Alam district police headquarters’ main stage handover ceremony, which was also attended by Seri Alam police chief Superintendent Mohd Sohaimi Ishak.
Earlier, Hassan was responding to Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim’s allegation on Sunday that the decision by the coalition government, led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to not provide allocations for Opposition MPs was unfair.
The former federal minister claimed that all government MPs have received their allocations to date, however none have been received by the Opposition. He said this was especially so in states led by PN such as in Perlis, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan.
In relation to that, Hassan said Shahidan’s comments need to be seen in a positive light and deserve attention as he represents 74 Opposition MPs.
"The 74 parliamentary constituencies under PN is a large number and among other things, the additional allocation will enable the MPs to contribute to the people to improve their lives,” he said.
Hassan, who is also a social activist, believes that equal allocation will also reduce politicking among MPs, since the funds are not from PH, but the federal government.
He stressed that the unity government needs to adopt a mature approach, and avoid the narrow brand of politics of the past.
Meanwhile, Hassan hoped that the Home Affairs Ministry will provide additional allowances or increase the number of quarters for the more than 800 police officers and personnel from the Seri Alam police district.
He explained that the district police has nine police stations under it, but currently only has quarters with a capacity for only 200 policemen.
"The remainder of police officers have to rent outside the quarters, where there is a need to increase their current allowance,” he said.
