Make equal allocations for all state reps a standard practice, suggests Loke

SEREMBAN: Giving equal allocations to all MPs and assemblymen has to be made a permanent policy, says Seremban MP Anthony Loke.

The DAP national organising secretary said the move to give all MPs equal allocations following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the government and Pakatan Harapan on Sept 13 this year was a good move as this would directly benefit the people.

"After the signing of the MOU, even Barisan Nasional pledged in their manifesto for the recent Melaka election to give all assemblymen equal allocations for their constituencies," he said.

He said he would raise this issue at the Negri Sembilan state assembly sitting next week and hoped that his Pakatan colleagues would support this so Opposition assemblymen in Negri would receive equal allocations," he told reporters after giving aid to flood victims in Lenggeng near here.

Pakatan holds 20 of the 36 state seats in Negri, with the remaining 16 under Barisan.

The Sept 13 MOU signed between the government and Pakatan leaders was to promote bipartisan cooperation on transformation and political stability.

Loke also expressed hope that the new Sarawak government formed after the state polls on Dec 18 would take a similar step.

He said this could also prevent MPs or assemblymen from party hopping.

"Some wakil rakyat claimed they had no choice but to jump ship and support the government of the day as they needed the allocations for their constituencies," he said, adding that the Federal Constitution has to be amended to prevent party hopping in future.