Syed Saddiq: Johor rep allocations will be fair
KUALA LUMPUR: Allocations should be given out equally to all Johor assemblymen, including those from the opposition, said Muar member of parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman yesterday.
Syed Saddiq said he believed his statement on Facebook the day before had been mistaken as questioning newly-minted Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian’s statement that allocations would be given only to Pakatan Harapan assemblymen.
He said this was the prerogative of the state government.
“When I contacted the menteri besar, he said he agreed with my idea.
“We will come up with a policy that will ensure that we help opposition assemblymen as well.
“When you look at his (Osman’s) statement in its entirety, you realise that this is because of a lack of funds.
“It’s not that we will be handing out millions of ringgit in allocations.
“We can’t even do that for state government representatives... but we will ensure that it is fair,” he told the New Straits Times Press.
He said there should not be any discrimination in allocations for development and the state government would follow the example set by the Selangor government by allocating RM200,000 a year to each opposition assemblyman.
“My stand is simple. In the process of rebuilding our nation, everyone has his or her place, without taking into account race, religion or political leanings... and the people in these places (opposition-held seats) have chosen their representatives.
“Even though this assemblyman is my opponent, he has been given the mandate by the people.
“So, we should not discriminate.
“We want to ensure that we are a just and fair government, and we should ensure that there is a strong opposition (to provide checks and balances).
“So, that is why we should help them, to ensure that there is a healthy democratic system in the country.”
Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim) has taken Osman to task, saying that not giving allocations to opposition assemblymen went against the spirit of democracy championed by PH.
Its secretary-general, Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz, said in order to strengthen democracy, a sitting government or state government must be fair to all elected representatives.
“Therefore, Abim urges the PH government, especially in Johor, to be fair to all state representatives, regardless if they are from the government or the opposition.
“Abim hopes that this new change in the country’s political landscape can inculcate a new and fresh political culture so that the democratic values in the country can be enhanced.”
Osman was reported to have questioned the need to provide allocations to BN representatives, saying that by doing so, it was akin to giving the assemblymen bullets to fire at the PH government.