The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) thanks Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow for heeding the call for fair allocation directed to him alongside other political leaders in our last statement dated 25 March 2020 by allocating the RM30,000 COVID-19 emergency aid fund to all Penang state assemblypersons including the Opposition.

The fund allocation to all elected representatives without partisan favour is an exemplary practice to the federal government and all other state governments. The Selangor state government that allocated the special COVID-19 fund to the appointed “constituency coordinators” instead of opposition state assemblypersons should follow Penang’s footsteps.

Bersih 2.0 urges the Penang state government to again set an example of fairness and honour in the constituency development fund (CDF) allocation. All elected representatives, from both ruling and opposition parties, should enjoy equal resources to serve their constituents. However, the administration of CDF should be institutionalised with rigorous guidelines, monitoring and auditing to avoid abuse and corruption.

We also extend the call to all governing coalitions and parties to get rid of the practice of discriminating opposition in fund allocation at both federal and state levels. Otherwise, they have no legitimate ground to complain when they are discriminated against as the opposition in the other states or the federal level.

Released by,

Steering Committee of Bersih 2.0

Image credit: NST