Don't 'torture' opposition states, Arau MP tells Anwar

Arau MP Shahidan Kassim today urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim not to be calculative in helping states ruled by the opposition. 

Speaking during the debate on the Supply Bill 2023, Shahidan said that states like Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Perlis were being "tortured". 

"Now that he is the prime minister, is he the prime minister for Pakatan Harapan (PH)?" he said. 

"He is the prime minister of Malaysia, the ministers and people of Malaysia. We are paid in order to help the people." 

Shahidan said if the government wished to be fair, the allocations for development for these four states should be equal to those given to Sabah and Sarawak. 

He meanwhile welcomed Anwar's announcement of RM700 in allowance to be given to government officials but said this should be increased to RM1,000. 

"If we were in charge, we would give RM2,000," he quipped before suggesting that the allowance for Kafa teachers likewise be raised from RM1,000 to RM1,500. 

His proposal was questioned by Gombak MP Amirudin Shari, who asked why Shahidan, during his time in the government, had not done any of this himself.

Shahidan replied that the Madai government should change its mentality and not practise the politics of revenge. 

"This is Madani," he said. "There must be a new way of thinking. 

"A year ago, we gave allocations to everyone including DAP. This year, we have not received even a single sen. 

"The allowance that we get, we give to the people. Why are we being tortured?" he said.