KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition MPs can negotiate with the government’s chief whip in relation to the special allocations for their constituencies, says Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
“The federal government is committed to negotiate with the government’s chief whip over the Prime Minister’s special allocation for Opposition MPs and their constituencies through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU),” the Minister in the Prime Minister’S Department (Federal Territories) said in a written parliamentary reply dated Monday (Dec 9).
This special allocation is just an addition and complements the allocation under the five year Malaysia plan.
She said the allocation will be given based on the government’s current financial position.
“The Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has emphasised that the allocation to the Opposition will be decided after the negotiation between the Opposition and government chief whips concludes,” he said.
She said Anwar had reminded all parties that the distribution of allocation to the Opposition MPs should not be made complicated to resolve as it involved basic conditions and processes in any negotiations and was democratic.
She was responding to a question by Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh(PN-Besut) on the government’s commitment to fulfil Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto on equal allocations for all MPs, regardless of parties.
To another question on the Constituency Development Fund Act (CDF Act), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department(BHEUU) will consider the proposal.
“The government is cognisant of a fair and equal distribution of CDF for all MPs. However, this will involve a major financial implication for the government,” he said.
She said the BHEUU will look into the matter.
“For now, the allocation for Opposition MPs is channeled directly to the state development office for people’s projects under the Implementation and Coordination Unit (ICU), Prime Minister’s Department,” she said.
She was responding to a question by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman(Muda-Muar) on the government’s CDF Act.
