Don't punish the rakyat, give equal allocations to all MPs, says PKR's Pasir Gudang MP

KUALA LUMPUR: A senior PKR MP has urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to give equal allocations to all MPs regardless whether they are from the ruling party or not.

Hassan Abdul Karim (PKR-Pasir Gudang) proposed that the government should introduce necessary amendments to ensure automatic equal funding among all MPs.

"For instance, several areas in Johor are hit by floods.

"Out of the 16 parliamentary constituencies in the state, two are held by Opposition MPs – Mersing (Muhammad Islahuddin Abas) and Pagoh (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin).

“Imagine if Mersing is affected by floods and the MP there does not receive any allocation, but other (government) MPs have collected theirs.

"Not all of the MPs are rich, are they? I cannot (accept) that it is okay for us (to get an allocation) but for the Opposition, you figure it out yourself," he said while debating the Supply Bill 2023 in Parliament Thursday (March 2).

He appealed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to “do the right thing” in the matter.

“If Tambun (Anwar) can do this, it would be great. We will support it, I am sure many people will support this.

“If we want to call it reform or change or whatever, the point is we have to do this. Please do not punish the rakyat,” Hassan argued.

He cited an example where he has family members who also supported Perikatan Nasional, but he saw no reason to punish them.

Muhammad Islahuddin Abas (PN-Mersing) then stood up to thank Hassan for his appeal

Another opposition lawmaker, Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (PN-Pengkalan Chepa) also expressed his respect for Hassan during the latter’s speech.

“We are here to debate the budget for this year and the ones invited include the Opposition MPs.

“So if we Opposition MPs debate (the budget) and it is approved, but then we are denied (allocation), this is a very obvious injustice. So I really respect Pasir Gudang,” Marzuk said.

Several Opposition MPs including PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang (PN-Marang) in their debates for the Budget 2023 had asked the government to ensure equal allocations for all MPs.