Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim today accused the federal government of ‘shortchanging' the people of the state.

"Out of the over RM16 billion paid by Selangor people in taxes, the federal government is only granting us RM400 million in total for development," he told the state assembly.

Khalid ( right ) khalid ibrahim 301009 , who is also Ijok state assemblyperson, was responding to a question on the restrictions that the federal government has imposed on the state government when granting funds.

The question was posed by Taman Medan state assemblyperson Haniza Mohamed Talha.

Khalid explained that the state government has no powers to collect revenue from customs or company taxes but have to rely on the RM200 million "capitation grant" from the federal government.

He pointed out that if the RM200 million is divided among the state's five million population, each would only get RM40 annually which amounts to RM4 a month.

Describing this as a "pittance", the menteri besar said that the federal government has not made a rational decision.

"What is important is the economy and not politics," he said, adding that allocations managed by the federal government for state development has been "misused and abused" by ministers.

Of non-existent bridges, roads to golf courses

To prove his point, Khalid cited the example of a minister (whom he did not name) laying the ground works to build a bridge in a rural area but did not follow through the whole project after the recent general elections.

"The bridge is not there. Stones have been placed but we do not know where they went. This burdens the economy," he said.

It is high time for the federal government and state government to hold discussions to address the matter, he said.

He pointed out that 20 percent (RM3.2 billion) of the amount paid by the state government to the federal government (RM16 billion) would suffice for upgrading and development works at the backwaters of the state.

He gave another example in which a minister, who loves playing golf, would only do repair works on roads leading to golf courses.

"Finally, the PM, who could not take this any longer, shot him a letter of warning," said Khalid.

In view of this, he called on the people of Selangor to "remember the bridge, remember the roads leading to golf courses" when casting their votes in future.