PETALING JAYA: It is time that equal allocations for all MPs is institutionalised and made mandatory rather than based on the discretion of the sitting Prime Minister, says an opposition leader.
Bersatu Vice-President Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee said the requirement for equal funds to be allocated for both government and opposition MPs should be made a law so that whoever is in power must abide by it.
“That means whoever forms the Federal Government or sits as Prime Minister, they have to give the same amount of allocations for all MPs,” he told FMT.
Kiandee, the Beluran MP and a former Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker, added that equal funds would recognise the opposition’s role as the check and balance on the Government.
SPONSORED CONTENT Sabah revenue hits RM6.97 billion: Hajiji says GRS State Government may see full term Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government continued its momentum in managing the economy in line with the commitment and spirit of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) when it posted record high state revenue of RM6.973 billion last year. Read more Having repeated the call for equal funds since the formation of the Unity Government, the opposition was told by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to hold talks with Putrajaya as Pakatan Harapan did with the government of Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Earlier Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the Government will discuss the allocations for opposition MPs next Wednesday, following his meeting with opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin on March 19.
“In the meeting, the opposition said they want allocations and any conditions (to give allocations) are up to the Government (to set).
“I have informed them that this matter will be brought to the level of the Unity Government Leadership Council for us to present what they want,” he said.
Besides Hamzah, the meeting with Fadillah was also attended by Opposition chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan and Member of Parliament for Beluran Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee.
On March 24, Fadillah was reported to have said that there is no draft agreement related to demands for allocations to opposition representatives with the Madani Government as claimed by Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders following the meeting.
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