DAP Perak to MB: Stop abuse of powers and unlawful discrimination
of fund allocation
Press Statement
by Ngeh Koo Ham
(Kuala Lumpur, Friday):
Just before the Chinese New Year it was reported in the local
papers that the Perak State Government has allocated RM10,000-00 to each of
the 44 BN Assemblymen to help the needy and the disabled in their
constituencies for the Chinese New Year. It was also reported that the
Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Tajol Rosli Ghazali called upon the
Assemblymen "to try to give out the allocation in cash so that the senior
citizens can give angpow to their grandchildren".
In giving the state allocation of RM10,000-00 to only 44 BN Assemblymen to
the exclusion of the other 8 Opposition Assemblymen the action of the MB
is objectionable on 4 grounds. First, the action of the Perak MB is
shameful as it is politically childish if not immature to disrespect the
choice of the voters in the Opposition Constituencies. An Assemblyman
irrespective of his political affiliation is an elected representative of
the people. In a parliamentary democracy such blatant discrimination
against the opposition Assemblymen constitutes a serious abuse of power
and is contrary to the true spirit of parliamentary democracy.
Secondly such ignominious discrimination appears to be contrary to Article
8 of the Federal Constitution which is the Supreme Law of the land. The
said Article 8 stipulates as follows:-
"All persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection
of the law"
Thirdly, the Menteri Besar and the State Government have breach their oath
of office to uphold the State Constitution. The State Constitution states
that the State Government must rule with fairness (keadilan) and it must not
discriminate against any of its citizens, workers or residents of Perak.
Fourthly, the Menteri Besar and the State Government are setting a bad
example that discrimination is an acceptable practice.
This is not the first time that the BN has misused its huge majority in
the Perak State Assembly. In 2002 the Perak State Government approved an
yearly allocation of RM22,000-00 to each of the BN Assemblymen to employ a
personal assistant. The Opposition Assemblymen were denied any such
allocation. Again in 2003 the Perak State Government approved RM500,000-00
for the purchase and distribution of school bags and bicycles for the
needy pupils but only in BN controlled constituencies.
The BN Government should refrain from using the State coffers as though it
is a private bank account of the BN party. If public funds are used for any
public purposes such as giving to the needy through the State Assemblymen
then all the State Assemblymen irrespective of their party affiliation
should have equal access to the State allocation in the administration of
such funds to their respective constituencies.
It is obvious that the whole exercise is a political gimmick to fish for
votes during the coming elections. The MB's call to the Assemblymen to give
the allocation in cash so that the senior citizens can give angpow to their
grandchildren is ridiculous if not a mockery as the declared purpose of
the allocation was to help the needy and the disabled.
The DAP Perak has instructed its Director of Legal Bureau on Public
Interest, Mr Nga Hock Cheh to study and take such legal steps as may be
necessary to challenge such abuse of power by the BN leadership in Perak
which is contrary to the Federal and State Constitutions.
(27/1/2004)
* Ngeh Koo Ham, DAP Perak Chairman
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