Press Releases
Date: 15 November 2023
IMPLEMENT THE DISTRIBUTION OF CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS NOW OR THE SCHEME OF THINGS WILL BE REPEATED
The CSO Platform for Reform is deeply concerned over the recent developments regarding the allocation of constituency development funds (CDF), both at the national and state levels. The pledging of support by Bukit Gantang Member of Parliament Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, to the Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his government was contingent upon receiving development funds for Bukit Gantang, and this underscores the longstanding issue of inequitable distribution.
The CSO Platform for Reform decries the practice of inequitable allocation of development funds, which has been a contentious issue for decades. The current system, where each of the government's 148 Members of Parliament is granted RM1.3 million per year, while none is provided for the Opposition Members of Parliament. This disparity is also present at the state level, exemplified by the recent announcement by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow of Penang, where Opposition representatives receive RM60,000 per year compared to RM500,000 for state government representatives.
The CSO Platform for Reform recognises that such inequitable distribution not only hampers the development of constituencies but also undermines the reform agenda of the nation. The allocation of development funds should not be wielded as a tool to garner political support, thereby perpetuating a cycle that compromises the principles of fair governance.
It is disheartening to witness politicians expressing their allegiance to the government based solely on promises of development fund allocations. The CSO Platform for Reform calls upon the Madani government, as well as all state governments, to promptly implement a fair and equitable distribution of constituency development funds. The practice of using these allocations to consolidate political power must be rectified to uphold the democratic values that our nation aspires to.
The CSO Platform for Reform urges the government to prioritise the welfare and progress of all constituencies, irrespective of political affiliations. Fair and equitable distribution of development funds is a fundamental step towards fostering a more just and inclusive governance system.
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