KUALA LUMPUR: The setting up of Federal Development Department (JPP) goes against the provisions of the Federal Constitution.
Muhamad Fathi Yusof, the Assistant Director of Islamic Centre, UTMKL, and Research Fellow (Law and Constitution), said, the proposed department comes under the jurisdiction of the local government.
He adds that the leadership of the village heads can only be decided by the respective states.
” The setting of the department is against the separation of power under Article 9, of the Federal Constitution,” he told NSTP.
On Sunday, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) vice-president Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman called for the functions of the Federal Development Department (JPP) to be reinstated.
This is for the benefit of Bersatu’s division and branch chiefs nationwide.
He said that by doing so, party leaders would be able to secure more projects, with the funds going back to their respective communities.
“By reinstating the function of the JPP, all development projects can be channeled to the division and branch chiefs, hence giving them sufficient funds for them to carry out programmes in their areas,” he said.
Rashid said this in his winding up speech at the Bersatu general assembly.
He said in order for Bersatu’s division and branch chiefs to secure victory in the 15th general election (GE15), more powerful weapons are needed.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Fathi said the setting of JPP is also against the spirit of federalism, as allocation meant for the state is not supposed to be distributed to others.
What was more sad, he added was that the JPP could be misused to channel the people’s money to political parties.
“The people’s money is being used to finance party leaders and political parties at certain levels. This is a misappropriation and abuse of power,” said Muhammad Fathi.