A BACKBENCHER called on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to provide equal allocation to all MPs to ensure aid reaches all sections of the community.

Hassan Abdul Karim (Pasir Gudang-PH) lent his support to the opposition in its calls for equal allocation of constituency funds for all MPs.

Hassan drew on the current flood situation in the country and said it would be hard on MPs who cannot access their allocations.

“Take the flood situation in Mersing. The Mersing MP was not given allocation while other MPs were. How can the Mersing MP help voters in his constituency?”

He said not all MPs are well off.

“We can’t do this to the opposition. It must be fair,” he said during the Budget 2023 debate.

The Johor opposition counts Mersing MP Muhammad Islahuddin Abas and Pagoh MP Muhyiddin Yassin, both from Perikatan Nasional (PN), among its ranks.

They are among the 26 MPs from Johor.

As at 8am today, the number of flood evacuees in Johor doubled to 25,213 people at relief centres, with Segamat recording the highest toll with 7,272 victims.

Hassan said Anwar can amend legislation to automatically dispense funds to all MPs, irrespective of which party they are from.

Among PN lawmakers who demanded equal constituency allocations were Kota Baru MP Takiyuddin Hassan, Arau MP Shahidan Kassim, and Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad. – March 2, 2023.