Include parliamentary allocations in annual budget, says PKR MP

PKR MP Hassan Karim has proposed that parliamentary constituency funds be allocated in the annual federal budget, following calls for equal funding for all Members of Parliament. Karim believes the responsibility to allocate these funds should not be left to the discretion of the prime minister. He emphasized the need for a law that mandates such allocations in the budget every year, ensuring the prime minister enforces this without fail.

Earlier, opposition MP Ronald Kiandee urged PKR and Amanah MPs to state their positions on equal allocation systems after DAP leaders supported the idea. DAP chairman Gobind Singh Deo urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to provide equal funds to all MPs and to legislate this practice. Karim, along with Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan and Hulu Langat MP Sany Hamzan, agreed on the importance of fair distribution of funds to elected representatives.

Zahir called for an increase in the allocated amount to meet constituent needs, asserting that administering every sen is a responsibility. Sany suggested reaching an agreement on the distribution mechanism first, ensuring funds reach the people effectively. He also believed that constituency size should influence the allocation amount, with larger constituencies receiving more.

While enacting legislation is ideal, Sany believed establishing a mechanism initially would be sufficient. Following the Cabinet meeting, government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said the Cabinet might discuss the proposal for a law guaranteeing equal allocations in the future, acknowledging the prime minister's awareness of the matter.