Pahang MB defends lack of equal allocation for opposition reps

Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail has rebuffed the idea of giving equal allocations to government and opposition state assemblypersons.

However, in doing so, he said the state government never neglected the welfare of the people, including those from opposition areas, even if no allocation is given for the elected representatives involved.

Bernama reported Wan Rosdy as saying that although no allocation is channelled directly to the opposition, the aid still reached the people either through his office, the office of the state assemblypersons, the coordinator of the state legislative assembly or the District Office.

“The state government will continue to channel aid even if voters in the area did not choose us in the previous election.

“This is our responsibility. The state government will channel aid continuously regardless of race, religion and political affiliation.

"For example, RM100 schooling assistance is given to all Year One pupils. We give it without asking the children about their parents’ political affiliation,” he said when winding up the debate on the motion of thanks for the royal address of the Pahang Regent, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah during the state assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang today.

Wan Rosdy (above) added that even if allocations are given, the amount may also differ because “never in history has the allocations for the opposition and government (assemblypersons) been the same”.

The Umno man currently helms a government comprising members of both BN and Pakatan Harapan.

Wan Rosdy also cited the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) Pahang State Development Project for 2023, which saw RM118.5 million allocated for the opposition constituencies for various forms of development using allocations from the state government.

He added that the state government always considered giving allocations to opposition representatives, with the State Finance Officer being asked to carry out a study and follow-up action for the proposed paper to be brought to the state government meeting council.

He also gave assurances that opposition assemblypersons can meet and discuss with the state government if they need any assistance, although the method of providing aid may be different.

Request by PAS

The issue of allocations was first raised on the second day of the state assembly sitting and today, state opposition leader Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man reminded Wan Rosdy that as an elected representative, he should understand the problems faced by service centres requiring allocations.

Earlier this week, Tuan Ibrahim urged the state government to abide by the state regent’s decree to provide "fair allocations" to PN lawmakers.

On the water issue, Wan Rosdy reiterated the state government's commitment to ensuring 90 percent of the state's water supply issues would be resolved by 2026.

Wan Rosdy said so far, of the 217 water supply improvement projects costing RM2.3 billion as announced at the previous sitting, 82 had been completed as of April involving allocation costing RM47 million.

In addition, 37 projects are under construction costing RM299.9 million while 98 other projects costing RM1.99 billion are at the pre-construction stage, which is design planning, approval or contractor appointment matters.

The projects were planned to overcome the state’s water supply problems, among them broken pipes, low water pressure, supply cuts, declining quality of raw water and replacement of old pipelines, he said.

He also said water supply-related problems occurred not just in Pahang but also in all states, with the water services in some states worse than Pahang’s.

“The main issue is the low tariff rate. The last time a domestic water supply tariff study was done for Pahang was in 1983; our domestic water tariff is the second lowest in Malaysia after Penang.

“The state government continues to persist with this tariff rate by taking into account the burden on the people,” said Wan Rosdy.

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