KUALA LUMPUR : Constituency development funds (CDFs) should be distributed equitably to all members of parliament (MPs), regardless of political affiliation, and must not be used to secure political support, said the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS).
The think tank urged the government to end the practice of tying constituency allocations to political commitments, following the signing of a confidence-and-supply agreement (CSA) with 13 MPs on Oct 29.
Under the agreement, the MPs will receive RM3 million each in constituency allocations in exchange for supporting Budget 2027 and several institutional reforms.
In a statement on Tuesday (Nov 3), IDEAS emphasised that public funds should serve all constituents, regardless of which political party their representatives belong to.
“While the CSA may support parliamentary stability, CDF allocations should not be tied to political commitments,” it stressed.
IDEAS noted that government MPs currently receive CDF allocations by default while opposition MPs must negotiate for similar funding, resulting in unequal treatment among elected representatives.
“Constituents should not be disadvantaged because their MPs are in the opposition,” it said.
The think tank reiterated its call for legislation to institutionalise CDF allocations, as proposed in the Kaukus Demokrasi Pelbagai Parti’s (KDPP) annual report and position paper, as well as a proposed CDF Bill championed jointly by IDEAS and electoral reform group Bersih.
It proposed three principles: equal access to funding for all elected representatives regardless of political affiliation; formula-based allocations reflecting population size and constituency development needs; and public disclosure of funding guidelines, allocations and expenditure reports, subject to parliamentary scrutiny.
In the longer term, IDEAS proposed that constituency funds be disbursed through a transparent institutional framework.
“MPs and ADUNs should identify local needs, while government agencies or elected local governments oversee the distribution of funds for community development and assistance to vulnerable groups,” it added.
IDEAS CEO Aira Azhari said reforming constituency allocations should be relatively straightforward, given that it was among the pledges in Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) election manifesto.
“As the next general election draws closer, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has the opportunity to enact a reform that he himself has championed for years, demonstrating his administration’s commitment to institutional reform and reinforcing his reformist credentials,” she said.
The CSA was signed by 13 MPs, including former prime minister and Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Muda’s Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof representing the government.
The agreement requires the signatories to support Budget 2027 and institutional reforms, including limiting the prime minister’s tenure to two terms and separating the powers of the attorney general and public pro
