Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop	Chong Chieng Jen

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 16, 2009) : The distribution and allocation of the Prime Minister’s Special Allocation for Parliamentary Constituencies is under the full discretion of the Prime Minister.

The fund is placed under the jurisdiction of the state development officer (SDO) at the State Development Office and they are authorised to distribute the money by the Prime Minister, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop told the Dewan Rakyat today.

“The power to approve applications for a project or programme under this allocation is under the jurisdiction of the SDO.

“In this case, the SDO will consider whether the project can be implemented under this allocation, and whether it would benefit the people in a certain area,” he said in reply to a motion to deduct his salary.

Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Bandar Kuching) had earlier called for a motion to deduct Nor Mohamed’s monthly salary by RM10 after claiming that Pakatan Rakyat members of parliament and their voters have been discriminated against because they did not get the PM’s special allocation.

Nor Mohamed said there were no cases of abuse of power by the SDO, adding the implementation of each project or programme must also comply with the financial rules fixed by the Treasury Directive and the relevant Treasury letters.

“Since the fund is under the discretion of the Prime Minister, so there has been no misuse of power by the SDO who have approved part of the allocation to qualified non-governmental organisations, based on existing rules and guidelines,” he said.

The motion was then rejected by the House after a voice vote called by Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.

Chong, in his motion, questioned the alleged discrimination practised by the BN government, citing examples of money under the special allocation supposedly meant for Bandar Kuching that was channelled to projects in other areas.

“Although the BN government has repeatedly stressed on the 1Malaysia concept, in terms of policy implementation, it has contradicted the concept and discriminated against the opposition MPs and their voters.

“The BN government has always said the special allocation will still be channelled to each parliamentary area, including those of the opposition, but through a different mechanism,” he said.

To this, Nor Mohamed said the opposition MPs were being hypocritical when they had earlier questioned the government’s decision to help poor folks in areas like Lawas, Limbang and Mukah.

His remark predictably raised the hackles of the MPs such as Chong, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PKR-Machang), Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) and Fuziah Salleh (PKR-Kuantan) who stood up to argue but were not given way.

Earlier, the motion was debated by 10 MPs, namely Datuk Lilah Yasin (BN-Jempol), Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah), Datuk Mohamad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading), Tian Chua (PKR-Batu), Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan), Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (PAS-Kuala Selangor), Hamim Samuri (BN-Ledang), Datuk Ibrahim Ali (Ind-Pasir Mas), Chong Eng and Datuk Ismail Kassim (BN-Arau).

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