Denied access to federal development allocations, Perak Pakatan Rakyat assemblypersons are relying on creative thinking and public donations to serve constituents.

They survive on a shoestring monthly salary and allowances, depending on whether they are full-time or part-time politicians.

A full-time Pakatan assemblyperson gets about RM5,900 a month, while a part-time politician gets about RM4,650.

Of this, they donate 10-20 percent (depending on their category ratings) to their political party. The rest goes towards maintaining service centres and to support their families.

The Prime Minister's Department - through its state development department - allocates an annual fund of RM1 million to every Barisan Nasional parliamentarian, while opposition MPs get half this sum.

Malaysiakini recently reported that the money will not be disbursed through representatives in opposition-held seats, but through BN parties located in these constituencies.

NONE Opposition-held state seats in Perak get RM200,000 a year, but this is channelled through Menteri Besar Zambry Abd Kadir who deals directly with the public.

DAP Buntong assemblyperson A Sivasubramaniam ( right ), who is in politics full time, said Pakatan representatives had obtained their monthly allocations of RM2,000 six months in advance during their 10-month tenure in office from March 2008.

"However, the funds dried up in August. I depend on public donations to run my service centre. I hope to organise a stage-show in January to generate donations to maintain the centre until the next election," he said.

"I may not have federal funds to address the grouses of my constituents but I make sure that maximum media attention is given to their plight, so that the federal authorities are forced to act on these."

' Indirect punishment'

PKR state deputy chief Chang Lih Kang ( below ) said the funds should be disbursed through the elected representatives.

"However, the BN has chosen to misuse its power and to play politics with public funds. Its political aim is to portray a negative image of Pakatan as being unable to bring about development and (instead to depict the) false image that only BN can bring about such changes and development," he said.

handling memo to upm 250706 chang li kang "BN is indirectly punishing voters for voting in the opposition and is denying them their right to development. The federal government must be professional and not take a partisan attitude."

Tronoh assemblyperson V Sivakumar said he used to get two sources of income, as state speaker and as an elected representative.

"I was able to service my service centre at Batu Gajah without any problems. However, after we were ousted, I have faced financial problems. I depend on public donations to run the service centre," he said.

Sivakumar has also hired several bodyguards to protect him and his family, following disputes with BN over the legality of his position as speaker.