Not all 54 Barisan Nasional state assemblypersons in Selangor receive a flat rate of RM2 million annual development fund, clarified two elected representative from the state.

Instead the amount receive for under the fund varies according to the size and location of the state constituency.

They were referring to a remark by the recently elected Ijok state assemblyperson K Parthiban in an exclusive malaysiakini interview that all state BN representatives receive the RM2 million annual grant from development.

That remark elicited sharp criticism from the opposition party who claimed that the amount granted did not did not commensurate the performance of the receiving BN reps.

Responding to these attacks, Parthiban's counterpart, Subang Jaya state assemblyperson Lee Hwa Beng clarified that not every BN elected representatives in the state receive the RM2 million annual development fund.

He explained that there are two categories of allocations given to BN state assemblypersons.

The first category known as the 'BN elected representative fund' allocated RM500,000 to each of the 54 BN's state assemblypersons in the state.

The fund is meant for projects or programmes like 'get together with the people' in the respective constituencies. The amount under this fund varies from state to state and every year too.

"The amount will not be the same each year depending on the state's financial situation. For instance we were given RM250,000 last year and this year is RM500,000," the MCA politician, whose expenditure under the fund was listed on his personal website, told malaysiakini .

Apart from state assemblypersons, BN members of Parliament throughout the country also reportedly received RM2 million under this fund each year but according to Lee, the amount has been adjusted to RM1 million this year.

Higher amount for state excos

The second category, he noted, is an allocation that is earmarked for the development of each constituency. The amount under this category varies from constituency to constituency within one state.

"Take my constituency as example, under this second category of allocation, I am asked to recommend development projects up to RM700,000 this year in my constituency but this is subject to approval from the district office," he said.

He cited his recommendations to the district office to build several futsal courts and a bridge estimated to cost RM400,000 in Subang Jaya which are yet to be approved by the authorities as examples under the second category.

"The difference is that I am allowed to allocate money for my constituency programmes and projects under the first category as the allocation is already with me, while there is no guarantee for an approval under the second category," stressed Lee.

On the RM2 million figure revealed by Parthiban, Lee said he believed that would fall under the second category.

"Under the second category, usually rural constituencies or those held by state excos will get more, some get RM2 or 3 millions. As a new state assemblyperson (Parthiban), it is understandable that people will also expect more from him," said Lee.

Gerakan's Bukit Lanjan state assemblyperson Yong Dai Ying ,when contacted, echoed Lee in this matter.

Yong too, received RM500,000 under the 'BN elected representative fund' and RM700,000 earmarked for her constituency development projects upon her recommendations to the district office.

"What I understand is that (the state government allocates) RM10 million for the Petaling Jaya area this year and the amount, divided by 14 BN state assemblypersons in this area means each of us get about RM700,000," she told malaysiakini .

There are 56 state seats in Selangor. Except for two seats that are held by opposition DAP in Sungai Pinang and Sekinchan which do not get any money from the government the rest are held by BN elected representatives.

The opposition has always cried foul over the double standards and discrimination they are subjected to in the allocation of these public funds.