PETALING JAYA: Dissatisfaction has arisen among several MPs critical of a government decision to cut their development allocations from RM3.8 million to RM1.3 million.
An MP from Pakatan Harapan who declined to be named said he had received only RM1 million compared to RM3.5 million previously, and found it difficult to help voters in his constituency.
Applications to government agencies or departments would take quite a long time, he said. “If we are given higher allocation, it will be very easy for us to help voters directly, quickly and efficiently.”
However, he believes that the allocation will be increased after the 2023 federal budget is presented.
He said equal allocation should be given to opposition and government MPs.
Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung hoped the size of the allocation can be increased when the country’s financial situation improves.
He hoped that it will be channelled according to a formula based on the number of voters. “It is not fair for Petaling Jaya with 200,000 voters to get the same allocation as Putrajaya with 43,000 voters,” he said.
Another PH MP who declined to be named said that the proposal to grant additional allocations based on the number of voters in each constituency will be presented to the prime minister in a joint meeting with government MPs on Feb 12.
“RM1 million when compared between villages and cities is not enough. The number of schools in villages and towns is not the same, as are suraus and mosques,” he said.
Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal of Perikatan Nasional said he had to use his own money to help constituents.
He said all opposition MPs had not received any allocation so far “even though PH promised in their manifesto not to (withhold the allocations)”.