KUALA LUMPUR: A brief shouting match broke out in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Oct 13) after Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran) raised concerns over allocations for Opposition MPs and criticised the anti-party hopping law.
The argument followed Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee's (PN-Beluran) call to improve the law, with Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah) challenging his remarks on allocations for Opposition lawmakers.
Kiandee claimed the law had failed to prevent party hopping while restricting MPs suspended by their parties from charting their own political paths.
He said the law should be amended alongside other parliamentary reforms to strengthen the country's democratic system.
"Those who are sitting on the government side of the House today may one day find themselves in the same position and become victims of the powers enjoyed by those sitting on the other side," he said during the Budget 2027 debate.
He said Opposition MPs received no allocations after the change of government in 2018, warning that lawmakers from the current government could face the same situation if political power changes hands.
Cha then sought clarification, saying he wanted to confirm whether Opposition MPs had received allocations before 2018.
Kiandee replied that the funding was at the prime minister's discretion and not guaranteed by law.
"If it happened, say it happened – if it didn't, say it didn't," Cha said.
When Kiandee continued speaking, Cha interjected: "Don't lie in the Dewan Rakyat."
Kiandee subsequently turned to Sabah's allocations, saying that although RM17.6bil had been allocated to the state, a significant portion had been returned to the Federal government because it was not fully spent.
He cited figures showing that 24.1% of Sabah's allocation was returned in 2023, 32% in 2024 and 11% in 2025.
"The government must ensure that announced allocations are fully channelled to Sabah. The special grant should also reflect the state's entitlement to 40% of the revenue collected from it," he said.
