Pakatan Harapan’s Teja assemblyman Sandrea Ng said it proves that the government respects the rights of the people in all constituencies and its commitment to work with all parties, including the opposition, for the well-being of the state and the people.

“Prior to this, opposition assemblymen had to sign a confidence and supply agreement (CSA) with the government. It was a condition set by the state government to distribute allocations equally.

“Now, without the CSA, the opposition still get an equal allocation,” she said when contacted by Bernama.

Ng, who chairs the Perak housing and local government committee, said the increase in allocation for members of the state executive council (exco) would enable them to carry out their tasks more effectively and efficiently.

Yesterday, Perak menteri besar Saarani Mohamad, when tabling the 2023 state budget announced an allocation of RM300,000 per year for the assemblymen, including the state assembly Speaker, for the implementation of small infrastructure projects and programmes, apart from RM40,000 each for implementation of programmes during the four major festivals.

Saarani also announced that the allocation for their service centres will be continued at a rate of RM7,000 per month, involving an allocation of about RM5 million a year for all 59 service centres.

Meanwhile, Perikatan Nasional’s Sungai Manik assemblyman Zainol Fadzi Paharuddin said he welcomed the move by the state government to provide the allocation to all assemblymen, regardless of party affiliation.

“It can help us in looking after the interests of our respective constituents, especially those in need of immediate financial assistance,” he said.