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MB: See me or DO over funding issues, don't drag in palace
Published:  Jan 22, 2018 6:16 PM
Updated: 10:53 AM
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Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali has advised all lawmakers in the state to make enquiries at their district offices or see him personally if they face problems accessing state allocations for development purposes.

He said this was the correct approach as opposed to seeking royal intervention over administrative matters.

"This applies to all lawmakers, even the opposition. We are the only state which provides development funding for the opposition.

"Therefore, if there are implementation problems, the lawmakers can see the DO (district officer) because they are the financial controllers.

"They can also see me. My door is always open. We can talk about it [...] administrative issues should not involve the palace," he said.

He explained his administration allocated a fixed sum for lawmakers for development purposes annually.

"Sometimes, at the start year, the channeling of funds to the DO may take some time," he said.

Azmin was speaking to reporters in Kuala Selangor today after distributing the first batch of Kasih Ibu Smart Selangor (Kiss) welfare cards to eligible womenfolk from the state constituencies of Ijok, Bukit Melawati and Permatang today.

 

In recent weeks, media reports have claimed that PAS lawmakers have encountered hurdles in securing state government funding for development activities at their constituencies.

However, there have been no clear indications from PAS' top brass that this was truly the case.

Yesterday, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang broached the subject by urging Azmin to not allow politics to get in the way of Selangor's administration and that there be no discrimination.

"After the elections, the party that wins can form their own government. But it is a bad approach to have political sentiments when administering (a state).

"After the elections we must assume responsibility for all people, whether or not they supported us," he said.

Similarly, the New Straits Times cited Hadi's deputy Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man as saying he did not believe that the funding was frozen.

"Azmin has stated that it will take time as it is early in the year and the process is still ongoing.

"We will wait and see. The earlier statement stated that all state assemblypersons including those from BN will get their share.

"This is the Selangor government's commitment, which differs than other states under BN that do not provide any allocation for the opposition," he noted.

Selangor PAS commissioner Sallehen Mukhyi told Malaysiakini on Jan 18 that his party will consider taking the matter to the palace if his party's lawmakers were really having such problems.

He also said Selangor PAS lawmakers did not face any problems in securing state funds last month.

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