For the first time in Malaysia, two elected representatives are willing to give a significant part of their annual allocation to the local community to decide the kind of projects beneficial to the grassroots.

DAP's Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim and PKR's Machang Bubok assemblyperson Lee Khai Loon will be donating RM50,000 each to a project dubbed the "People's Participation Project".

Mooted in 2012, the People's Participation Project is part of the state government-funded Penang Women's Development Corporation (PWDC), Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) Gender Responsive and Participatory Budgeting programme.

Sim gets an annual allocation of RM200,000 and Lee, RM300,000 for their respective constituencies.

"We don't just want to go to the people every five years, when there are elections, or to ask or talk to them about abstract issues," Sim said at a press conference in Alma, Bukit Mertajam, today.

"We want to see how real power can be harnessed and real money decided by the people for projects that truly benefit them, not only those planned or decided by the top authorities," he added.

With this, Sim ( photo ) appealed for the understanding of associations that may receive lesser donations from his allocation.

This move, he said, was to ensure his allocation reaches more people, with even supporters of BN benefitting from this project.

‘We want to reach people on the ground’

"Such donations are good but we also want our funds to reach and benefit more people on the ground, who may not be part of such associations," he explained.

"The only way for this project to be successful is to involve the participation of all, especially the grassroots," he added.

Also present at the session was MPSP president Maimunah Shaffie and PWDC chief executive Aloyah Abu Bakar.

Lee said the total of RM100,000 would be handed over to one of the 17 village development and security committees (JKKKs) in Machang Bubok to be used for a "people-centred development project".

On July 5, the JKKKs will be briefed on the project, and a lucky draw will be organised to choose the lucky group that will get its project fund.

"The project involves four stages, starting with a resident census in August, then followed by focus group discussions in September, needs-based voting in October and the planning, proposal and implementation of the project by December," Lee ( photo ) said.

"If the project is successful, it will become a model for people's participation process to determine the kind and amount of public budget that will be presented at the MPSP Budget dialogue that takes place yearly," he said.

According to Lee, similar projects under the Gender Responsive and Participatory Budgeting programme run by PWDC had been earlier conducted in four poor communities in Ampang Jajar,  Sungai Pinang and Seberang Jaya on the mainland, Lebuh Campbell in George Town and Sungai Ara in Bayan Lepas.

Maimunah said the MPSP budget survey, which covered 3,000 respondents, showed an increase in women's participation and decision-making on the kind of projects needed for the community.

"We have seen how the people have matured over the years, and how such programmes involving public participation empower the people and also the staff of the MPSP," she said.