No equal allocations for Penang reps, says CM Chow

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow says the state will not follow in the footsteps of Kelantan in channelling equal allocations to opposition assemblymen.

"We will continue with the policy of providing allocations to all assemblymen, regardless if they are backbenchers or from the opposition, but (the amount) will not be equal," he was quoted as telling reporters by Bernama yesterday. 

Chow had been asked if the state government led by Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) would give allocations to opposition assemblymen similar to Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu which are led by Perikatan Nasional (PN).

He also said that all newly elected representatives would utilise the unused allocations given to their predecessors for their constituencies. 

He said there were still allocations left which he added would be used for the fourth quarter of the year, before new allocations are announced. 

"It is the same for the (11 assemblymen) from the opposition: if there are allocations left, it is to be used," he said.

Kelantan Menteri Besar Mohd Nassuruddin Daud said on Aug 23 that assemblymen would receive equal allocations from the state government.

He said the state government would treat all assemblymen fairly, including those from the opposition, as they were all elected by the people.

At the Aug 12 election, PAS and Bersatu swept 43 out of the 45 state seats contested. 

In Penang, meanwhile, PN won 11 of the 40 seats in the legislative assembly, with the rest going to the PH-BN alliance.