KUCHING: Opposition assemblymen should be given equal allocation as their counterparts in the government, says DAP’s Dr Kelvin Yii.

       The Bandar Kuching MP, who is contesting the Batu Kawah seat in the Sarawak election, said opposition representatives in the state currently did not receive any funds for their constituencies.

       “Regardless of whether an elected representative is from the government or opposition, they should receive the same amount of allocation as no Sarawakian should be left behind.

       “Currently, opposition constituencies only get a big fat zero from the government in terms of allocation.

       “People should not be punished for electing an opposition rep, and be deprived of development.

       “The use of developmental politics as a threat against the people, where resources are only allocated to government-friendly assemblymen, should be a thing of the past,” Dr Yii told a press conference here yesterday.

       The demand for equal allocation is one of the state assembly reforms that DAP is calling for in Sarawak.

       Other reforms advocated by DAP include extending the duration of state assembly meetings.

       “Currently, the Sarawak assembly only convenes twice a year with each meeting lasting about 10 days. This is insufficient to cover the breadth of issues concerning Sarawakians.

       “If we can meet for more days and produce good solutions to issues in each constituency, then the people of Sarawak will stand to benefit from this,” said Dr Yii.

       He also proposed that the state assembly introduce a Chief Minister’s answering time session.

       “A special designated day, perhaps once a week, should be set aside for this, where the Chief Minister will come to the august hall to answer questions directly from assemblymen from both sides of the political divide,” he said.

       DAP is contesting 26 seats in the state polls slated for Dec 18.