by Karpal Singh
Aliran Monthly Vol 24 (2004): Issue 10

---

Please support our work by buying a copy of our print publication, Aliran Monthly, from your nearest news-stand. Better still take out a subscription now. If you prefer to read our web-based edition, please support our work and make a donation.

---

	It is indeed impossible to justify such discrimination Karpal Singh

I welcome the move by the Government to grant Members of Parliament an extra allocation of RM20,000 each for deserving welfare cases in their constituencies. It is indeed gratifying that this grant will be allocated to all MPs both in Government and the Opposition.

Poverty transcends political barriers and there should be no discrimination against Opposition MPs. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should take this move one step further by also granting Opposition MPs the RM500,000 annual allocation extended to Barisan Nasional MPs for small projects in their constituencies. This traditional grant has all along been denied to Opposition MPs.

It is indeed impossible to justify such discrimination. It will certainly enhance the Prime Minister�s image further if he takes the initiative also to extend this allocation to Opposition MPs. The Prime Minister should free himself from the mould he has inherited from his predecessor.

In the democratic process, the Opposition plays a significant and crucial role. The Opposition should not be discriminated against when the welfare of citizens is at stake.

Karpal Singh is an opposition Member of Parliament

Now e-mail us and tell us what you think. Your comments might be published in the Letters section of our print magazine, Aliran Monthly.