KUALA LUMPUR: An opposition MP says he will pledge his support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his government if he receives development funds for his constituency.
Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (PN-Bukit Gantang) suggested that the rural and regional development ministry allocate a total of RM 30 million for various purposes.
The funds would be used to fix roads in rural areas, upgrade suraus and even public toilets, he said.
“I am sincerely conveying the wishes of my voters in Bukit Gantang,” Syed Hussin told the Dewan Rakyat when debating the 2024 supply bill at the committee level.
“I would like to see the extent of the Madani government’s fairness in giving allocations. Here, in this honourable chamber, I can say that if I receive an allocation to develop my area, I will support the prime minister and his Madani government.”
Equal allocations for MPs has been a contentious issue of late, which has led to four MPs from Bersatu pledging support for the government.
The four are Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang) and Zahari Kechik (Jeli).
Iskandar Dzulkarnain and Suhaili have since been suspended for four and six years, respectively, after the party’s disciplinary board had ruled that the duo breached Bersatu’s constitution.
Earlier, deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that more opposition MPs were expected to declare their support for Anwar.
Syed Hussin’s declaration also comes a day after Suhaili confirmed receiving allocations for his constituency after declaring support for Anwar on Oct 30.
Presently, each of the government’s 148 MPs is allocated development funds of RM1.3 million annually, an amount several times higher than the allocation for opposition MPs.
Opposition MPs only received equal allocations when Ismail Sabri Yaakob was the prime minister, after his coalition signed a memorandum of understanding with Pakatan Harapan, which was the opposition then.
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