KUCHING: The government’s decision to reduce the development allowance for members of parliament (MPs) will be a challenge for representatives of rural constituencies to finance programmes and activities.
Kapit MP) Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said most constituencies in the hinterlands of Sarawak are highly dependent on MPs’ development allocations.
He said MPs are able to assist the people effectively because of the allocations which allowed relief to be delivered without delay and without having to go through complicated procedures at district office and government agency levels.
The Public Works Minister said the allocations are channelled to MPs’ service centres, which act as one-stop centres to channel funds to the people.
The allocations also benefit city and suburb constituents, not just those living in rural areas.
Constituency allocations for government backbencher MPs have been slashed by more than 65 percent from RM3.8 million to RM1.3 million.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced recently that the amount comprising a RM1 million outright grant and another RM300,000 for service centre operations has been reduced from RM3.8 million.
Nanta said the funds benefit not just the B40 group but also the M40 group affected by the economic downturn, and therefore rely on assistance from elected officials.
He cited Kapit as an example of a remote constituency with geographic challenges, covering an area the size of Pahang.
The minister said the reduced outright grant is insufficient and will pose greater challenges to him to manage the dwellers’ diverse needs and enhance the area’s infrastructure, which the residents of Kapit desperately need.
“Of course, the reduced allocation will affect the quality of government services and assistance that can be channelled by elected representatives, and on that basis, the government needs to take more proactive measures to deal with this constraint.
“Although I feel a little aggrieved, I have to accept this ruling and hope that this provision will be improved by the government from time to time.
“This is nothing other than to ensure the people can be helped in the best way in line with the wishes of MADANI Malaysia,” he said in a Facebook post today (Feb 6).
Nanta asserted that he fully understands the action to reduce the allocations which has to be taken as a measure to save the country’s finances.
However, given the people’s requirements and the location of constituencies, particularly in rural areas, the funding is somewhat unexpected, he lamented.
