The Selangor state assembly's Special Select Committee on Competence, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) will propose a mechanism on the use of constituency development annual funds.

The mechanism will prevent assemblypersons from misusing the funds for political campaigning purposes, said Selcat chairperson and state assembly speaker Teng Chang Kim.

NONE He said state district officers should follow proper procedures in approving allocations for assemblypersons, and not approve them to just anyone as they pleased.

"We do not want allocation funds being misappropriated for political purposes... probably, we need to set a cap on the allocations being spent on a quarterly basis to ensure that all spending is done, in accordance with the schedule.

"The allocations channelled for assembypersons should be spent equally and fairly, throughout the year, rather than in just one or two months," he told reporters after chairing Selcat's second hearing at the state secretariat building in Shah Alam.

The inquiry, which began on Sept 8, will investigate among other things, the expenditure of constituency development funds by the Pakatan Rakyat and BN assemblypersons in 2008 and this year.

All 56 elected reps in Selangor are entitled to an annual allocation of RM500,000, whereas the speaker, menteri besar and the executive councillors would get an additional RM100,000.

Monthly cap unworkable

However, the allocations channelled to 20 constituencies represented by Barisan Nasional assemblypersons in the state are administered by 10 state executive councillors appointed by Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

NONE Teng said the possibility of setting a monthly cap on the spending of allocations was not possible since there were many celebrations and festivals in the country.

He said Selcat would consider a proposal to ask assemblypersons to table their allocation plans throughout the year at district-level meetings.

Teng said the Selcat inquiry was expected to begin again after Oct 18.

He said he was satisfied with the inquiry today, which saw the Klang and Sabak Bernam district officers giving testimony on the approval of constituency development funds in their respective areas.

"So far, four of nine district officers who were called for the Selcat inquiry, have given their testimonies," he said.

- Bernama