KANGAR: The temporary freeze on allocations for Perlis assemblymen is expected to be lifted by October.

Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli said the funds were under review by the state government and expected to be completed before year end.

"We expect the issue to be resolved before the state government's account is closed by year end. (The funds would) probably (unfreeze) by September or October.

"We are reviewing the state government's financial regulations," he told reporters after the conclusion of a two-day state assembly sitting here today.

Shukri was responding to a call made by Perikatan Nasional (PN) Guar Sanji lawmaker Mohd Ridzuan Hashim yesterday, for the Perlis government to lift the freeze on allocations for the state's assemblymen.

Ridzuan was reported as saying that the freeze on the RM400,000 allocation, which has been in place since May after several state government leaders were investigated for graft in April, had disrupted many public projects.

(LINK https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/08/1087679/lift-freeze-assemblym...)

Earlier in his winding-up speech, Shukri said the state government would look into Ridzuan's suggestion for the annual allocation for assemblymen to get their respective service centres to be increased from RM50,000 to RM100,000.

"We will have to study and deliberate the proposal because we have an annual deficit budget of some RM17.06 million.

"This is big. Hence, it is unfair to compare Perlis with our neighbour, Kedah, which is a bigger state.

"In fact, each state constituency in Kedah has up to 30,000 and 40,000 voters. In Perlis, that 40,000 voters' number is only reflected in parliamentary constituencies.

"For example, in my constituency in Sanglang, there are only 12,000 voters and that figure only reached the number following the direct voting rights of those aged 18 and above," he told the House.

Shukri said the state government's allocation to Perlis assemblymen was divided into two categories - RM36,000 to run service centres and RM50,000 for management expenses.

"The fund for Indera Kayangan assemblyman (from Pakatan Harapan) is limited to operating her service centre.

"The management allocations (for all PN assemblymen) are RM50,000, comprising RM30,000 for infrastructure development and RM20,000 for people's development," he said.

Shukri said the allocation was being channelled through the District Management Division based on the request made by the assemblymen.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/08/1088153/freeze-perlis-assemblymens-funds-be-lifted-october-says-mb