Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has stressed that development allocations are intended to benefit the people and do not necessarily have to be channelled through Members of Parliament (MPs).
Anwar said the government does not need to distribute such funds directly to MPs if the allocations can instead be delivered straight to the communities who require assistance.
“Allocations are not necessarily meant for MPs. The allocation is for the people. Since when must it be given to MPs?
“The important question is, who are the allocations for? MPs or the people? Therefore, the allocations should be for the people,” he said after performing Friday prayers at Masjid Ar-Rasyidin here.
He added that if an allocation of RM2 million was available, the funds could be used for the benefit of the public, including schools, religious schools, mosques and infrastructure repairs such as drainage improvements.
Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Senator Dr Zulkifli Hasan and Melaka police chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar.
The statement came following claims by two PKR MPs that their access to the MyKhas system, which manages constituency allocations, had been restricted, allegedly affecting the delivery of assistance to residents in their areas.
Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung claimed that the remaining RM3 million allocation for his constituency was no longer channelled through the elected MP after his access to the MyKhas portal was blocked since late May.
Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail also claimed that her parliamentary service centre lost access to the system from July 29, which affected the management of constituency allocations.
Anwar said the policy was not a new approach, adding that it had also been applied during the time when those now questioning the decision were previously MPs themselves.
“The policy has existed for a long time. When they were MPs before, they knew about it. Now, they are opposing it.
“So when they oppose it, we channel it directly to the people,” he said.
