BERSATU leaders at the divisional levels must be more creative when it comes to funding activities and not rely on political contracts and patronage, said grassroots members.

They said the division leaders can take a leaf out of other Pakatan Harapan parties and organise events to collect funds or seek sponsors for their programmes.

At the same time, they said, Bersatu elected representatives must set aside part of their allowances for the use of party and divisional expenses.

“I disagree with our division leaders asking for government contracts. We need to be clean. We shouldn’t have posts for self-interests.

“Those who are asking for contracts should strengthen their divisions first. Just make sure they don’t have a division just in name, without any branch,” said Gopeng Bersatu deputy chief Ahmad Ishak.

He said Bersatu must follow PKR and DAP, which are known for their fund-raising dinners.

Bakri division chief Arif Haron, meanwhile, suggests that every winning election candidate contributes towards the party fund.

“If our MPs and state reps give a little bit of contribution, this can help the party.

“When we first started Bersatu, we had five divisions in Johor and I had to use my own money.

“It depends on how we manage according to our capabilities. As a businessman, I can allocate RM2,000 for office rental and staff payment. This does not include programmes. That’s our contribution for the party,” he said.

The issue of party funding came to the fore during the party’s annual congress last month when vice-president Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said government contracts should be given to party division leaders so that they can fund party activities.

While delegates at the congress supported the call, the party’s youth wing objected to it, saying that it was reminiscent of Umno’s behaviour as it encourages corruption and cronyism.

Bersatu chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Rashid was only sharing his view when he called on Putrajaya to disburse goodies to party loyalists.

He said it did not mean that the PH government would heed the call.

For Seputeh division chief Mohamad Riadz Mohamad Hashim, division leaders should be looking at sponsors for their programmes and activities.

“Getting a sponsor is important. We can run effective programmes and the cost can be undertaken by third parties.

“The donation from the public is not consistent, so we have to think about that. We need to plan on our costings,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

The cost to run programmes and activities at the division levels varies according to states, with office set-up alone anywhere from RM3,000 to RM6,000.

Shah Alam division chief Mohd Hamidi Abu Bakar, however, felt it is not wrong for party members be given government contracts if they qualify.

“Such contracts are useful. We just don’t hike up the price. There is a proper tender process after all.

“Rather than Umno people getting the contracts, it’s better we are given them. At the end, it also benefits the government.

“Take Shah Alam, for example. We have 12 branches and almost 4,000 members. We do need money to run our division,” said the contractor. – January 15, 2019.