‘Sama rata belum tentu adil’, Syahredzan mahu peruntukan ikut jumlah pengundi

Syahredzan Johan, a Bangi MP from the DAP, argues that equal distribution of funding is not necessarily fair because not all parliamentary constituencies are the same. In his statement, he believes that the principle of compassion in funding allocation should be accompanied by a regional approach based on the number of voters, in addition to taking into account the special circumstances of each region.

He cites Bangi as having more than 300,000 voters in 2022, roughly three times the national average for a parliamentary constituency, aside from having over 700,000 residents. "The MP for Bangi must practically serve 700,000 residents, not just 300,000, as he cannot discriminate or differentiate between voters and non-voters in the respective areas," he said in a statement.

Syahredzan points out that the size difference between constituencies is also noticeable when compared to nearby parliamentary constituencies. He states that Hulu Langat has approximately 160,000 voters, Puchong around 150,000, while Putrajaya only has 42,000. "However, equal distribution of funding is not necessarily fair. This is because not all parliamentary constituencies are the same," he says.

He further suggests that any legislation related to parliamentary constituency funding must ensure fairness in access to the funds, aside from guaranteeing that the allocated amount is proportionate to the size of the constituency. He also proposes considering the location factor in determining funding for service centers and staff salaries, particularly because operational costs in some remote areas are significantly higher.

For development funds, he adds, the needs of urban and rural areas should be distinguished since rural areas usually require more infrastructure projects. "However, there should be a law to standardize financial funding allocation for all MPs regardless of their political background," he says. He adds, though, that the law should not only ensure access to funds, but also guarantee that the funds are allocated fairly and regionally based on the number of voters and taking into account the special circumstances of each constituency.

"This is not for MPs who come and go, but for ensuring justice for the voters, especially in mega-sized parliamentary constituencies like Bangi," he says. Recently, DAP Secretary-General Gobind Singh Deo said his party has repeatedly conveyed to the Prime Minister their party's promise to ensure all MPs receive equal funding. He says a law mandating equal distribution of funds to all MPs will eliminate political favoritism in the distribution of development funding and protect the voters' rights.