Constituency funds used for election campaign

Hefty amounts of allocations had been dispersed to BN state assembly representatives during last year's general election, revealed a Select Committee on Competence, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) probe today.

The investigations into the state fund allocations from 2008 to 2009 kicked off today with district officers Zulkepli Ahmad and Huzaini Samsi, who are from the Petaling District Office and Gombak District Office respectively, taking the stand.

The public hearing was chaired by state assembly speaker Teng Chang Khim and assisted by deputy speaker Haniza Mohamed Talha, Bukit Gasing assemblyperson Edward Lee, Hulu Kelang assemblyperson Shaari Sungib and Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyperson Azmin Ali.

Huzaini, who was in charge of dispersing the state funds to six state constituencies in parliamentary district since 2007, admitted that there was a "possibility" that the allocation for 2008 was exhausted within two months prior to the general elections in March.

He stated this when he was shown accounts of the allocations and the amounts spent for the Batu Caves, Gombak Setia and Hulu Kelang as well as Kuang, Taman Templer and Rawang state constituencies.

According to Husaini, when Selangor was under BN's rule, each state assembly representative received an allocation RM300,000 annually.

"Normally we received applications for about RM20,000 to RM50,000 monthly and they were mostly for people centric projects... but in unusual circumstance like this when there is an election, legislatures maximised their expenditure before the polls," said Huzaini.

"They try to spend it (the allocations) before the election," he added.

Further probed on whether it was right for the previous BN lawmakers to spend their annual within months, Huzaini said: "It was not well planned".

Huzaini also agreed with the suggestion by the committee that, once the state assembly was dissolved, the assemblypersons can no longer apply for funds until a government is formed.

However, according to the books, funds were applied for and approved even after the Selangor state assembly was dissolved on Feb 13 last year in addition to further claims made by former representatives after the March 8 general election.

'Funds are at their disposal'

Moreover, he explained that once elected, the funds allocated to the legislators are at their disposal and his duty was to ensure that the funds requested were utilised for the right purpose and that they were approved with minimum delay.

He further added that usually approvals for funds are given within two weeks but under certain circumstances or upon the request of applications by assemblymen, can sometimes be processed sooner.

Asked if he was pressured to approve the funds, despite his better judgement Huzaini said: "They (the assembly representatives) would sometimes call and ask us to expedite their applications... but I wouldn't say we were pressured".

"We usually just approve all applications because it is easier to avoid confrontation," he said, which once again prompted Teng to ask whether they were compelled to authorise the funds.

Huzaini then replied, "we are doomed if we do (approve) and doomed, if we don't".

When detailed accounts of the money dispersed to each constituency from January to March last year was displayed on big screen, Huzaini was lost for words to explain how applications for cash amounting to RM400,000 and more was approved within a day or two for several constituencies.

Caught by surprise

In Batu Caves, for example, RM496,509.48 was applied for by one former assemblyperson on Feb12, 2008 and approved within nine days.

Caught by surprise, Huzaini only replied: "Fantastic! I did not know that my staff was so effective".

Besides that, he was also puzzled when shown accounts of RM70,000 cash paid out to one individual.

Furthermore, Huzaini admitted that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had not conducted investigations on these allocations although it is an unusual request for it to be exhausted in two months.

Azmin then asked, "Do you agree with me that the Gombak office was raided lately?"

Huzaini: Yes.

Azmin: What were they looking for?

Huzaini: I don't know. I received a courtesy call but I don't know what were they looking for... I was not informed.

Huzaini, however, was given until Friday to provide an explanation to the watchdog and to furnish the committee with the documents of the transactions that had taken place.

Meanwhile, Petaling District Officer Zulkepli was also similarly dumbfounded, as he was unable to explain how RM504,500 was authorised to one individual.

There are 14 constituencies in the Petaling district and there were discrepancies in allocations for all 14 areas.

Similarly, applications amounting to RM630,580 was made for the Seri Setia constituency from Nov 29, 2007 to March 28, 2008, where 65 applications were made after the state assembly was dissolved and after the new line-up of PR executive councillors were sworn in.

Zulkepli has requested for two weeks to return with records of the transactions that had taken place.

Teng told reporters after the inquiry that nine district officers, out of 13 witnesses, are to testify in the inquiry which is slated to go on until Sept 14.

He added that the number of witnesses may increase as more people who were involved could be called in.

Teng also welcomed for testimonies from former assembly representatives and government officers involved.

The inquiry is set to continue at 10am tomorrow.