Barisan Nasional (BN) Parliament backbenchers are entitled to an allocation of RM50,000 for 'non-official purposes', according to a copy of a confidential letter to the club's members from their president.

The letter dated April 3 and carbon-copied to Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi stated that Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin had announced that the cabinet had agreed that this sum could be used for unofficial reasons such as donations and charity.

"All members of Parliament are allocated an amount of RM500,000 per year for development and implementation (of projects) in their constituencies," said the letter.

"Out of this amount, RM50,000 can be utilised for other non-official purposes ( tujuan yang tidak rasmi ) such as donations and charity...," it said.

The letter bore the signature of the Backbencher Club president, Barisan Nasional member of Parliament for Rompin Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis, and was stamped ' Rahsia ' (Confidential).

Asked by malaysiakini outside the Parliament lobby today, DAP MP for Kota Melaka Kerk Kim Hock, who made available a copy of the letter, said it was 'unusual' as it was marked 'confidential'.

"And what does it mean by 'non-official purposes'? Does this mean that the RM50,000 can be claimed without receipts and without going through the proper procedures?" he asked.

Kerk also said that the RM500,000 allocated to 'all MPs' was only distributed to BN MPs and not to those in the opposition.

He said he had brought up the contents of the letter in Parliament today and urged the Auditor-General to investigate the procedures of fund allocation to constituencies.

BN MP for Gelang Patah Chang See Then, when approached, said that this was not the only letter received by BN MPs. It seems they were also issued a guideline on how to claim the money.

Pondan stir

Meanwhile, during the afternoon debate session, Kerk told Parliament that the Sarawak United People's Party (Supp), the ruling party in Sarawak, had deported a Chinese education activist because it was afraid of him.

"If they are not afraid, why don't they fight him there, why deport him? If Supp cannot fight him, don't stand for elections," Kerk said.

He was referring to Tan Seng Hin, 60, who has resided in Sarawak for 23 years, but was banned from the state since Jan 6 because, according to Deputy Home Minister Zainal Abidin Mat Zin, "he was not thankful to Sarawak" and because he was "believed" to be involved in political activities through the Miri Hainan Association of which he is the secretary.

"How is Tan going to make his appeal when he is no longer in Sarawak? We are asked not to politicise his issue but Supp's decision to deport him was based on political reasons," Kerk said.

PAS MP for Pokok Sena Mahfuz Omar supported Kerk and said that since Supp could not handle Tan, they deported him and "when Umno could not handle Barisan Alternatif, they use the Internal Security Act (ISA)".

"This is a coward's ( pondan ) act," Mahfuz then added.

His comment sparked a frenzy of accusations from both sides of the house with the MPs calling the other either 'PAS pondan ' or 'Umno pondan '.

Marching orders

Later, Kerk was asked to leave the House when he insisted that Finance Deputy Minister Chan Kong Choy answer his questions during the debate.

Kerk had raised the issue of the ISA and its original drafter - a law professor who had said the ISA was not aimed at politicians and was open to judicial review.

Besides the confidential letter to the Backbenchers Club's members and Tan's deportation, he had also queried on the discontinuation of former Anti-Corruption Agency director-general Ahmad Zaki Husin's term and mother tongue education.

Chan replied on several issues, but declined to comment on those raised by Kerk.

House speaker Mohamad Zahir Ismail then said that ministers have the right not to reply to every question posed by another MP.

His statement was criticised by Kerk, who said, "As a veteran speaker, you should uphold the dignity of the Parliament House."

Despite warnings by Mohamad that he will take action on Kerk if he persisted in his demands, the latter insisted that Chan reply to his questions.

Mohamad Zahir then requested Kerk to leave the House and suspended him from sittings for three consecutive days, beginning today.

Kerk is expected back in Parliament on Monday.