KUANTAN: The Pahang government has never been selective in distributing assistance to the people across the state, regardless of whether they live in government- or opposition-led constituencies.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the state government did not "pilih bulu" (practise favouritism) and disbursed aid to anyone.
"The 'Juadah Makmur' programme distributes free packed food at selected mosques after Friday prayers for the people. When doing charity, there is no need for us (the state government) to see if the recipient is one of our voters.
"Based on the figures I have, the state government has spent RM1.4 million for the Beserah constituency although the elected representative is not part of the state government.
"The Pahang government today does not 'pilih bulu'. I can provide (Beserah) assemblyman with the finer details (for him) to inform the constituents that we do not take sides when it involves helping the people," he said in his winding up speech on the final day of the state assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang here today.
Wan Rosdy said he was discussing with the State Financial Officer Datuk Nazri Abu Bakar to provide additional allocation to all elected representatives, including executive council members and opposition assemblymen in Pahang.
"There is a budget to provide additional allocation, but the amount has not been finalised. I will get the views from the state financial officer before we decide on the amount.
"The revised allocation will be provided next year. This time the amount will be increased."
When asked if the allocation for members of the opposition would be channelled directly to them next year, Wan Rosdy said the matter was still being discussed and since it involved government funds, there must be a proper mechanism to disburse the allocation.
Earlier this year, Pahang Pas commissioner Datuk Rosli Abdul Jabar, who is Tanjung Lumpur assemblyman, reportedly said that the Pahang government provided RM30,000 allocation annually for development projects in opposition-led constituencies, which was handled by the respective district offices, while RM5,000 Ramadan aid was channelled to all opposition assemblymen, and they were required to provide their expense receipts.
On a separate matter, Wan Rosdy said the RM120 million treated water supply pipe from Kemaman, Terengganu, to the Gebeng industrial area would be launched on Dec 12.
He said the 29km project, led by the East Coast Economic Region Development Council, would help overcome the water supply disruption in the Gebeng industrial area and nearby settlements.
"Terengganu Menteri Besar (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar) will be present at the launch next week," he said.
Wan Rosdy reportedly said that the project involved laying a 24km pipe in Pahang and a 5km pipe in Terengganu.
It will supply more than 90 million litres of water a day.
Wan Rosdy said the state government would provide post-flood assistance to victims in Kelantan starting from Dec 12.
"Volunteers from the Pahang Social Action Council will assist with the recovery efforts in flood-affected areas in Kelantan," he said.