Tanjung Bungah DAP rep loses right to RM200,000 annual allocation

(FMT) – When DAP was in the opposition in the state, it argued with the BN government on why its assemblymen were not given allocations.

Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu’s RM200,000 allocation has been removed by the Penang government and passed over to Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari.

This means that Teh will no longer be able to propose and acquire funds for community events, give out charitable aid and hold events for his constituents.

It is learnt that removal of the allocation was due to his vow to leave DAP after the next general election and his alleged drop in performance as an assemblyman.

In an interview with FMT, the maverick DAP politician said he was not aware of his lost privileges until earlier this week when he was at the district office to apply for the funds.

Teh said he was told that he “has lost the right to sign off” on requests for funds from his allocation as a state assemblyman.

“These funds are usually for small projects to help NGOs, temples and churches, where we propose a small fund to repair and help them hold events.

“Some of these funds are for the poor folk where we help them get their monthly medicine supply, baby and adult diapers, new wheelchairs and to buy necessities for their homes.

“This aid is not for myself but for the voters of Tanjung Bungah.

“This simple right of an assemblyman has been taken away from me. To do this to a backbencher and an elected rep is cruel,” Teh said.

It is learnt each assemblyman gets about RM200,000 to RM300,000 yearly to hold programmes in the constituency.

The funds are given to assemblypersons who have a proper proposal about what they intend to do with the money. Dispersal of the funds is subject to an audit.

Previously, the Penang government had prevented Teh from approving a one-off RM700 aid to flood victims, citing “internal procedural changes”.

Teh had vowed to leave DAP at the end of his term following his discontent with the leadership on many issues.

He said he was told the funds and the authority to approve the funds now lies with Zairil.

“Back in those days, when DAP was in the opposition in the state, it argued with the BN government on why its assemblymen were not given allocations.

“It is regrettable that the current leadership has taken away something that is of public interest,” Teh said.

 

Zairil: DAP will open new service centre to replace Teh’s

When contacted, Zairil confirmed that Teh’s allocation had been transferred to his Bukit Bendera parliamentary office on the orders of the Penang government.

He said the state’s decision was likely due to Teh’s decision to leave DAP in the next election and his “apparent drop in performance as an assemblyman”.

“The state government has decided that the administration of the constituency, beginning 2018, will be under the Bukit Bendera DAP parliamentary constituency.

“To facilitate this, I will be opening a new service centre within the Tanjung Bungah constituency,” Zairil told FMT. He said the location of the new service centre has yet to be determined.

He said as for concerns that the aid was not going to the needy, he said the matter had been resolved.

Zairil said a meeting with the Tanjung Bungah village security and development committee (JKKK) was held recently and their proposals were reviewed by him.

“Otherwise, business is as usual and there is nothing to worry about.”