UPKO Welcomes RM3.1 Million Allocation For Opposition Assemblymen

KOTA KINABALU: The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) welcomes the RM100,000 allocation in COVID aid from the state government for each of the 31 opposition assemblymen in Sabah.

UPKO in a statement here today congratulated Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor for making the reform, saying that the allocation was a good start towards the depoliticisation of constituency development funds (CDF).

However, it said, the reform could be expanded.

“Hajiji will be remembered by history if his government can enact legislation that ensures equitable CDF for all state assemblymen and MPs, regardless of their party affiliation,” it said.

The state government presently provides a state minister an annual allocation of RM2.1 million, RM1.14 million for an assistant state minister and RM1.1 million for a government backbencher.

It also provides MPs RM10,000 monthly to maintain their service centre, but the money is channeled to the Bersatu division chiefs of the 14 opposition-held constituencies in Sabah and Labuan.

Yesterday, Hajiji announced a special allocation of RM3.1 million for the 31 opposition state assemblymen to help them to resolve problems in their respective constituencies and to aid the people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

UPKO only has one state seat, Kadamaian, of the 31 state seats currently held by the opposition, while Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, that forms the state government, has 44 seats.