Tebrau MP Jimmy Puah has joined DAP’s call for the government to enact a dedicated law guaranteeing equal development allocations for all MPs, becoming the first PKR MP to publicly support the proposal.
Puah said the current system needed to be reformed to ensure public funds were distributed fairly, without administrative discretion or political trade-offs.
‘Whether an MP is from the government or the opposition, they should not receive different treatment regarding development allocations simply due to differing political stances,’ said the Johor PKR vice-chief in a statement.
Call for a clear legal framework
Puah proposed a Parliamentary Constituency Development Allocation Act to institutionalise the funding framework and provide a clear legal basis for allocations to MPs.
Under the proposed system, he said MPs could receive a base allocation, with additional amounts determined according to objective criteria such as voter population and constituency size.
‘We need to build a system that does not require the opposition to negotiate with the government, does not involve political trade-offs, and does not change simply because there is a change of government,’ he said.
Puah’s remarks came after DAP urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim earlier this week to provide equal development funds to all MPs and institutionalise the practice through legislation.
DAP says issue raised with Anwar
DAP chairman Gobind Singh Deo said party leaders had raised the matter with Anwar several times, as equal allocations for all MPs had been among Pakatan Harapan’s election pledges.
The call has also drawn a response from suspended Bersatu vice-president Ronald Kiandee, who subsequently urged MPs from PKR and Amanah to state their position on the matter.
Puah’s public backing makes him the first PKR MP to openly support the call for a law to guarantee equal development allocations for all elected representatives.
