Labuan MP received allocation within three days after declaring support for government, no conditions attached

KUALA LUMPUR - Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman has revealed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim approved the allocation for his constituency within three days after he declared support for the government.

Suhaili stressed that there were no conditions attached in return for his support, contrary to claims made by some.

"When you want an allocation, you have to declare your support for the government.

"That's it. No conditions to be signed; all those are false accusations.

"I declared my support to the media, the next day I applied for the allocation, and two days later, the PM approved it," he told Sinar when contacted.

Suhaili said he had previously used up all his parliamentary allowances for office expenses, staff salaries, assisting patients for further treatment in Kota Kinabalu, providing food baskets for the hardcore poor, and more.

Earlier, the media reported that Suhaili received the allocation within a week after announcing his support for the leadership of Anwar and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor on Oct 30.

Suhaili also said that he was unaware of any conditional allocation for Opposition MPs, allegedly resulting from discussions among the Perikatan Nasional (PN) leadership.

Therefore, his decision to declare support for Anwar's leadership was a personal choice to obtain funding for his responsibility to the people of Labuan.

"In reality, we were never invited to discuss the conditions set by the leadership.

"We didn't know whether they made a decision and refused to discuss or sign an agreement without calling us.

"They should have asked for our opinions on whether to sign the conditions.

"When they (the leadership) make a decision (to reject), we have to follow, but it becomes a problem for the people in the area, not for them," he added.

Suhaili said that he believed that opposition MPs who declare support for the government are entitled to the same benefits as government MPs. However, he declined to disclose the amount of the allocation he received.

He also firmly stated that supporting the government does not mean abandoning or neglecting his own party.

"I am not leaving the party. I still love and cherish the party. But I also love the people. I need help.

"Where is the crime when a representative prioritises the people who voted for him?" he questioned.