RM2m allocation: TI tells MPs to bare it all
 February 16th 2007: MalaysiaKini

Barisan Nasional MPs receive RM2 million for their respective constituencies. The ruling party controls 198 out of the 219 parliamentary seats and the total allocation amounts to RM396 million. State assemblypersons also receive a similar budget but the amount varies from state to state. However, constituencies held by the opposition do not get the annual allocation. It is unfair that funds are only allocated to government MPs.

Some MPs who refused to follow MCA vice-president Ong Tee Keat's move to disclose information on the RM2 million allocations for his Selangor's Pandan constituency on his personal website. The MCA vice-president's move had ignited a heated debate and even drew flak from his party.

Several MPs cited lack of resources, poor Internet penetration, and the unnecessary need to disclose such information as among the reasons for not doing so.

TI Malaysia president Ramon Navaratnam reminded MPs that it is in their interest to assure voters have confidence in them by disclosing the allocation for their respective constituencies on the Internet. MPs can also use newspapers and other means to announce as to how they were spending the money.

On Jan 23, the MCA central committee decided that its elected representatives – for both state and parliament should not reveal their constituency allocations on the internet. The party leaders are concerned that such revelations could be “sensitive”, especially in allocations for religious and education purpose.