Negri Pakatan reps to get RM500,000 for small projects
SEREMBAN: Pakatan Harapan assemblymen in Negri Sembilan will get an annual allocation of RM500,000 for small projects next year, while those from Barisan Nasional will be given RM100,000, said Mentri Besar Aminuddin Harun.
He said the allocations would be released only in stages throughout the year to ensure the funds did not dry up quickly.
“We will also give RM400,000 each to 16 Pakatan coordinators in seats held by Barisan. This is to ensure small projects can also be carried out in Barisan-held constituencies,” he said after presenting appointment letters to the Pakatan coordinators here yesterday.
Pakatan won 20 of the 36 state seats in the May 9 general election, while Barisan won 16.
During Barisan’s rule, its assemblymen were given RM300,000 in annual allocation each, while those from the Opposition did not receive any.
Asked why Pakatan assembly- men were being given a higher allocation compared to the time the state was under Barisan, Aminuddin said this was to ensure they could carry out their duties efficiently.
“The assemblymen know the problems faced by their constituents and these should be addressed quickly.
“They do not have to ask me every now and then as this will cause unnecessary delays,” he said, adding that his office would closely monitor the expenditure of each assemblyman.
Aminuddin said his office would release the funds in stages as he did not want a repeat of this year, when more than 80% of the allocations given to the wakil rakyat were spent before the May 9 polls.
On a separate matter, Aminuddin said he was not concerned over talk that he had been “overshadowed” by one of his exco members.
“I have assigned the necessary portfolios to my exco team and I have no problem if they seem to overshadow me.
“As far as I am concerned, the particular individual is only carrying out his duties and the state and rakyat benefit from this,” he said.
Aminuddin said he gave all his exco members a free hand to make statements related to their job.
“I am fine if they appear frequently in the news. What is important is that we fulfil promises made to the rakyat,” he said.
On PKR, Aminuddin said he decided to contest the top post in Tampin PKR in the coming party polls instead of staying put in Seremban.
“This is because I want to provide better services to Felda and rural folk,” he said.
In the divisional polls, Aminuddin will go against two-term Tampin chief Kapten (Rtd) Zulkapli Kassim.
On Sunday, Zulkapli expressed shock when he learnt of Aminuddin’s intention to contest in Tampin.