PH assemblymen return unused funds before July 10 deadline

All 17 Pakatan Harapan (PH) assemblymen and two state constituency coordinators from the previous administration have complied with the directive to return remaining allocations before July 10. This action follows instructions issued by the Menteri Besar's office via a letter dated June 30, which mandated the return of unspent funds as of that date.

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I have checked with all the assemblymen, and they have all submitted their financial reports before July 10. Some assemblymen did not use up their allocations, and they have returned the money. If the money is still in the Service Center account, we have returned it. We do not want to keep the money.

J. Arul Kumar, the Nilai assemblyman and a representative for the PH assemblymen, confirmed that all party members submitted their financial reports by the July 10 deadline. "I have checked with all the assemblymen, and they have all submitted their financial reports before July 10. Some assemblymen did not use up their allocations, and they have returned the money. If the money is still in the Service Center account, we have returned it. We do not want to keep the money," he stated at a press conference.

Arul Kumar explained that funds utilized before June 30 were distributed to the public and relevant organizations for welfare and community initiatives. His party ceased all expenditures after that date, adhering to the Menteri Besar's office directive. He emphasized their commitment to transparency, noting, "Even though the candidate nominations are on July 18, we returned everything before July 10 because we do not want this money to be used during the campaign as a political tool."

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Even though the candidate nominations are on July 18, we returned everything before July 10 because we do not want this money to be used during the campaign as a political tool.

However, Arul Kumar raised concerns about the current state government's latest directive to return allocations based on a monthly calculation, contrasting it with the previous quarterly management system. He noted that the RM180,000 allocation was approved in a State Executive Council meeting on June 3 and disbursed on June 4, just before the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly on June 5. "When we approved the allocation, we ourselves did not know that the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly would happen the next day. When we received the allocation, naturally, we distributed it to individuals or organizations such as schools, residents' associations, Rukun Tetangga areas, and Village Development and Security Committees (JPKK)," he explained.

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When we approved the allocation, we ourselves did not know that the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly would happen the next day. When we received the allocation, naturally, we distributed it to individuals or organizations such as schools, residents' associations, Rukun Tetangga areas, and Village Development and Security Committees (JPKK).

Arul Kumar asserted that they possess complete records of these expenditures, including financial reports and acknowledgments of receipt from the beneficiaries. "If we haven't used it, July 10 is the end of the problem, we have already returned it. But in the current situation, we have already spent or distributed it, given it to the people, how can we take it back?" he questioned. He plans to meet with Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim to seek clarification and hopes the state government will reconsider the method for calculating the returned allocations.

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If we haven't used it, July 10 is the end of the problem, we have already returned it. But in the current situation, we have already spent or distributed it, given it to the people, how can we take it back?