Tawau elected representatives urged to disclose allocation usage
TAWAU: The people have requested the member of parliament (MP) and assemblymen of Tawau constituency to emulate Sandakan MP Vivian Wong in making public the programmes and projects she had undertaken with the development funds she received, said Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Tawau Public Complaints Bureau.
The bureau said it had received numerous feedbacks from the public who wanted to know how the public funds were being spent in the constituency.
According to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Shafie Apdal’s statement on April 19 last year, each Sabah assemblyman from the ruling party was allocated a special provision of RM1 million, as well as RM200,000 for people-centric programmes.
“There are a total of six assemblymen in Tawau and Kalabakan parliamentary constituencies, which means the special provisions they received last year amounted to RM7.2 million,” the bureau stated.
In addition, the bureau said Shafie had announced an additional RM1 million allocation for state ministers.
“Deputy Chief Minister cum
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew, who is also Tawau MP, should declare allocating half of the funds, which is RM500,000, for Tawau constituency.”
On top of that, the bureau said each Pakatan Harapan (PH) MP was entitled to RM1 million in allocation, therefore both the Tawau and Kalabakan MPs should have a combined funding of RM2 million.
According to the bureau, PH parliamentarians received the allocation in the form of direct funding (RM400,000), minor upgrading projects (RM400,000) and emergency assistance funding (RM200,000), which were disbursed twice a year.
“The MP funding has enabled Vivian to carry out 38 projects in Sandakan in the past six months, which she has made known to the public.”
The bureau said the people of Tawau should have benefitted from a total of RM9.7 million allocation received by the six assemblymen and two MPs of Tawau and Kalabakan constituencies as well as the funding for state ministers last year.
Hence, the bureau called on the MPs and assemblymen to list the programmes and projects they have undertaken using their allocation for the people to know how the elected representatives they voted for spend the taxpayers’ money.
The bureau is also open to correction by the elected representatives if the allocation figures they obtained were inaccurate.
“Most importantly, we want transparency in how the public funds is being utilized.
“If Vivian can do it, I believe all other MPs and assemblymen are able to declare the usage of their allocations as well.”
The bureau also called out to Sri Tanjong Assemblyman Datuk Jimmy Wong to make public the projects he has carried out using public funds.
“Vivian said she was committed to upholding her late father’s spirit in always putting the people as priority.
“Datuk Jimmy Wong should emulate her dedication to the people.”