AP for state reps: 'Do they deserve it?'

Politicians and civil society questioned the appropriateness of granting an Approved Permit (AP) each for state assemblypersons, touching on the perceptive, economic and ethical considerations.

The matter was revealed last month, based on a Ministry of International Trade and Industry's (Miti) import and export division letter to Selangor state assembly secretary Mohd Yasin Bidin.

The letter said the move is to recognise the contributions of the "yang berhormats to the people and the nation," stating that it had received the blessings of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak last October.

With the new policy, state assemblypersons shall now join the ranks of parliamentarians entitled to import a foreign car each.

However, strict conditions have been attached to the APs this time around, tying them to the names of the representatives with a two-year time limit before the vehicle can be sold.

For blogger, lawyer and social activist Haris Ibrahim ( left ), the main question was, "Are the assemblypersons really hardworking enough to be given such perks?"

"Are there any hardworking assemblypersons for that matter?" he asked rhetorically.

He questioned the rationale for them to be rewarded in such a way, stressing that "representatives are there to serve the people, not to be rewarded with such 'perks'."

Expressing similar concerns, Kelantan exco and Salor assemblyperson Husam Musa focused on the perception and motivation behind such ‘gifts' from the federal government.

"What is important is transparency in the award of APs. Why is it given, how is it being distributed? More importantly, how are the people benefitting?

Husam ( right ) who views APs as ‘political weapons' used by political parties to bargain for contributions to their political funds, found the sudden ‘gift' to state assemblypersons suspect.

"It is not wrong to give APs to assemblypersons but it becomes a problem if it is seen as an attempt to silence the representatives in the house," he said.

‘Foreign cars not a requirement'

Academician and political activist Wong Chin Huat wondered why assemblypersons require foreign cars to serve their constituencies.

"They don't need to use foreign cars to serve the people, why can't they use local cars? It is very hard to justify elected representatives' need for a foreign car.

Wong ( left ) is puzzled over our national preoccupation with the ‘status symbol' of owning a foreign car, seeing no reason why they should treat it as a privilege.

Since APs are meant for importing foreign cars, they should be openly tendered, not handed out to elected representatives like this, he said,

However, he added that he is not against any government move to raise perks and resources for elected representatives.

On monkeys and peanuts

Joining Wong is PKR treasurer William leong who opined that for MPs, "it (AP) is not the important thing."

For the AP to even matter, he said, the assemblyperson must have the ability to buy the car, contending that most ‘ordinary' elected representatives may not afford to import a foreign car.

On the other side of the AP equation are elected representatives who favour the idea, believing that not only do they deserve the AP but desperately need it.

One of them is Selangor Speaker and DAP Sungai Pinang state representative Teng Chang Kim ( right ).

"You pay peanuts, you get a monkey," he said, stressing that it is important to give better perks to allow the representatives to serve the people better.

Agreeing with Teng, PAS Kuala Selangor parliamentarian Dzulkefly Ahmad said with the AP parliamentarians and now assemblypersons can be better equipped in terms of transportation.

He fears, that without better resources, assemblypersons may resort to questionable means, "like some BN people who turn to all kind of sources which are not legitimate."

"I serve three state seats, Ijok and two others. I have to fork out my own allowance, we are really stretched. You also need research, you need staff to study (policies and parliamentary bills)."

"[The AP] is not a luxury, it is a necessity," opined Dzulkefly.

For BN Bintulu parliamentarian Tiong King Sing (left), giving APs to elected representatives is also not a big issue.

"We still need to pay the tax at the end, there are no discounts or exemptions. People should look it openly."

 

He also said that elected representatives have been working hard to serve the people.

If the representative have not served the people, he said, this is another question. But he contends that the people would not have elected them if they are not earnest in this effort.

"Why can't we just consider paying the RM10,000 (through the AP) to them (as a reward)?"

Also on the pro-AP bandwagon is DAP national publicity director and Petaling Jaya Utara parliamentarian Tony Pua.

"This are perks like free hospital treatment. We are not commercialising it, so it is not a big issue."

On why is he suddenly for a policy that he once fought against, he explained they were not against AP, but opposed the practice of giving it freely to companies.

"The AP itself is not a problem, because we need it to control the import of cars."