EMULATE MB, EQUITABLE CDF FOR ALL MPS AND ADUNS

Blessed Christmas to all Christians and all other friends who share our joys in the cultural way.

Jesus Christ taught us to love our neighbours like we love ourselves.

These are simply the universal values of empathy and compassion.

As I begins to celebrate Christmas, I reflect on the practice of empathy and compassion in politics.

I have to admit that PH Plus – I myself included – had not been empathic enough of the opposition when we were in federal and state governments.

We started to offer Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to opposition MPs and State Assemblypersons (ADUNs), which was not done under BN.

However, we refused to treat the Opposition colleagues as equals and give them the equitable amount of CDF. We held back some of the CDF to be managed by our party colleagues on various excuses.

We were wrong. PH Plus must have the courage to admit our mistakes. We should have loved our neighbours, even if they are in different parties, like we love ourselves and colleagues in our parties.

For that, I must express my sincere admiration to Perak’s new MB Datuk Sharaani Mohamad for his groundbreaking announcement on December 15 of equal CDF to all 59 ADUNs regardless of party affiliation.

Datuk Sharaani Mohamad has given Malaysians an invaluable and exemplary practice of multi partisanship as the parting gift for the stormy year of 2020.

I want to also register my highest respect for the wisdom of my PH colleagues in Perak led by the state’s inaugural Legislative Opposition Leader Abdul Aziz Bari for making this possible via the first Confidence and Supply Agreement (CSA) in Malaysia.

UMNO and PH in Perak have shown Malaysian how politics can be professional and gentlemanly, that we politicians can rigorously compete and sincerely collaborate with each other like athletes of great sportsmanship.

I call upon Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and all Menteris Besar/Chief Ministers of other states to emulate the model set in Perak by Datuk Sharaani Mohamad.

The Federal Government must give RM3.5million to all 222 MPs the same amount of CDF. So must all 12 other State Governments do all their respective ADUNs based on their capacities to provide, for instance RM3.5million each for Sabah and RM200k for the states in the Peninsular.

I personally call upon my Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Noor to give equitable CDF to ADUNs and MPs in Sabah. In Sabah, MPs are given CDFs by Sabah State Government but those allocated for Opposition MPs are customarily channeled to the division head of the leading Government party.

This practice is wrong and I urge DSP Hajiji to correct It. Bersatu division chiefs do not need CDF but Opposition MPs need it to help their constituency. I look forward to the soonest opportunity to discuss this matter with the CM.

I also call upon my visionary friends Selangor MB YAB Dato Seri Amirudin bin Shari, Penang CM YAB Chow Kon Yeow, Negeri Sembilan MB YAB Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, Johor MB YAB Datuk Hasni Mohammad and Perlis MB YAB Datuk Seri Azlan Man to step up their actions to expedite the arrival of equitable CDF as a new normal.

On this blessed day, I pray that Malaysia will be blessed with empathy, compassion and sportsmanship in politics in 2021.

DSP Wilfred Madius Tangau
MP Tuaran
President UPKO
On the Blessed Day 2020
25 Dec 2020