Selangor Menteri Besar Mohd Azmin Ali has turned down a request from assemblypersons to increase their allocation for managing their offices.

The request came from Seri Serdang assemblyperson Noor Hanim Ismail, who asked at the Selangor state assembly's question time for the allocation to be increased from RM10,000 per year to RM30,000 per year, in view of rising price of goods.

Azmin replied that managing expenses and the pay of assemblypersons’ aides have already been decided in a state treasury circular letter and a state exco meeting in Sept 2013.

"The expenses (of the state assemblyperson office) cannot exceed RM20,000. Therefore the state government has no plans to raise the management allocation as proposed," he told the state assembly today.

He added that state allocations should reach the target groups directly, and efficient management can help cut costs.

Meanwhile, in the follow-up questions, Rawang assemblyperson Gan Pei Nei complained that the allocation is inadequate to pay aides in accordance to their qualifications, while Kota Anggerik assemblyperson Yaakob Sapari called for a review of the allocation.

However, Azmin was adamant that the allocations would not be increased in the coming year.

"Nevertheless, it can be taken into account and budgeted for the year after," he said.