DAP urges Anwar to live up to Harapan manifesto, give equal funding to all MPs

DAP is urging Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to fulfil one of Pakatan Harapan’s election pledges and grant equal constituency development funds to all MPs.

At present, only government MPs receive the funds, with funding in opposition states handled by government-appointed liaisons. The government has even withdrawn control of funding from rogue PKR MPs.

This limits MPs’ ability to serve the constituents who voted them into office, while giving the federal government of the day economic leverage to sway voters.

In a statement today, DAP national chairperson Gobind Singh Deo said the party has remained committed to Harapan’s promise of equal funding for all MPs.

“We (DAP) have conveyed this to the prime minister numerous times, and we hope he takes the necessary steps to implement this as soon as possible,” he said.

Gobind added that DAP also wants equal funding to be legislated into law, to remove future political discretion and protect the rights of voters nationwide.

“I therefore urge the prime minister to address the delay and move forward with first providing all MPs with equal allocations, and subsequently enacting legislation that permanently secures equal constituency allocations for every MP,” the digital minister added.

‘Opposition not sidelined’

Anwar has constantly rebuffed allegations that the opposition is being sidelined by saying that the funding is being given to opposition states.

He maintained this position during his closing address at the PKR congress on Sunday, while also announcing that RM1 million will be allocated to each parliamentary constituency to be directly channelled to the people.

While specifics of the RM1 million allocation have not been detailed, it is assumed that it would follow the status quo on how constituency funds are handled.

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Gobind said that while the additional RM1 million allocation is welcome, it does not resolve the core issue of providing equal, non-discriminatory funding to every MP.

The latest push comes after DAP resolved to stay in government to push reform agendas.

Previously, the government has resisted pressure to fulfil the Harapan manifesto, saying it was difficult to do so in a coalition government.

However, Anwar proved otherwise on Saturday, when he announced that the government would abolish the Universities and University Colleges Act.

The premier had justified making the move now by saying that he had prioritised stabilising the country, politically, security-wise, and economically first.

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