The government's decision to allocate RM20,000 to each parliamentary constituency, including those represented by the opposition, has been welcomed by parliamentarians.

Ayer Itam member of Parliament (MP) Wee Ka Siong said he was happy that MPs can now play a bigger role in caring for constituents, but suggested that the size of the fund be reviewed from time to time.

"The emergency fund for the needy is a very positive move and is in line with the government's promotion of a caring society," he said, but pointed out that people in some areas would be in greater need of aid than others.

"There should also be considerations and reviews based on varying needs of different constituencies."

DAP chairperson and Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh welcomed the move but urged the government to end discrimination and extend the annual RM500,000 constituency allocation to opposition MPs as well.

"This traditional grant has all along been denied to opposition MPs. It is indeed impossible to justify such discrimination," he said.

"It will certainly be a splendid Hari Raya gift (if the allocation were made) to citizens who exercise their constitutional right to vote in opposition candidates in the recent elections."

Karpal lauded the government's move to extend the additional RM20,000 allocation to opposition-held constituencies, saying that poverty transcends political barriers.

Press reports last Friday quoted Women and Family Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil as saying that MPs will now be able to respond faster to needy cases without having to go through the Welfare Department.

She said MPs would have to follow strict disrbursement guidelines and that the money should only be used for emergencies involving death, sickness and natural disasters.

"The letter will be issued to the MPs within two weeks and they should get the funds then," she added.