PETALING JAYA: Sabah’s opposition assemblymen are welcome to apply directly with the state government if they need more funding, says chief minister Hajiji Noor.

Speaking in the Sabah state assembly, Hajiji said the state government had allocated a total of RM188.2 million to Sabah assemblymen for this year.

“The state government does not sideline the constituencies represented by opposition assemblymen from receiving this special allocation. It is directly channelled to district offices for the benefit of our people.

“However, if there is a need for more funding, opposition assemblymen can directly apply to the government or through me as we have no issue in accepting and considering such applications.

“What is important is that this is done in the people’s interest,” he said.

Hajiji was responding to Darell Leiking (Warisan-Moyog) who asked how the annual allocations were distributed to assemblymen.

Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Senallang) then said there was inadequate coordination in the distribution of federal allocations to opposition-held areas.

In reply, Hajiji admitted that sometimes he himself was subject to this.

“Warisan is in the unity government and so are we, but sometimes even I am not informed (of federal allocations being approved) for several areas in my constituency.

“I think this is a weakness on the part of the state development department and maybe the district offices, so we take this as something to be improved upon.

“We will tell the Sabah state development department to inform each assemblyman about the approval of federal allocations for their areas,” the chief minister said.