The Selangor government is allocating RM200,000 for each of the 12 BN assemblypersons in the state for next year’s budget.

Apart from the RM200,000 allocated to each BN rep, opposition leader Shamsuddin Lias was also allocated a Toyota Camry for official use.

The Toyota Camry comes with an annual allocation of RM100,000, which includes allowances for Shamsuddin ( left ) and car maintenance, as well as salaries for driver and secretary.

In tabling the budget today, Menteri Besar Mohd Azmin Ali said the allocations totalling RM2.4 million, is for running Program Mesra Rakyat welfare programmes, to improve the services provided by elected representatives, and to ensure that democratic principles are adhered to.

In addition, the allocations for government assemblypersons have been increased from RM100,000 a year to RM700,000 a year, while state-appointed parliamentary coordinators also get RM100,000 a year.

The allocations for opposition assemblypersons are a first in Selangor, although the first Pakatan Rakyat-led state to implement this is Penang, Azmin told reporters in a press conference after tabling the state budget.

To a question whether independent assemblyperson Abdul Khalid Ibrahim will also be receiving the allocation, Azmin replied, "He is the state assembly coordinator.

"We will give it to him. Now we also have a parliamentary coordinator, and we will give it to him, too."

While the menteri besar was proposing the allocations at the state assembly sitting, BN assemblypersons greeted the proposal with laughter and by pounding their desks in support.

Azmin took the opportunity to also joke with the assemblypersons, saying, "If you don’t want it, I want to withdraw it."

Related stories

PAS-DAP lock horns for deputy speaker post

'Honest' MB vows no supplementary budget

S'gor's RM2.4bil budget largest under Pakatan

No place for extremism in Selangor, says MB