Politics

PKR's Kelana Jaya MP warns party risks losing seat over allocation controversy

SUBANG JAYA: PKR might lose its Kelana Jaya seat if unresolved issues surrounding the constituency’s financial allocation, as raised by its Member of Parliament Wong Chen, are not addressed soon.

In a press conference at his office here today, Wong expressed concern that PKR might not be able to retain the seat, as the issue could create a negative perception among the public.

"If there is (the suggestion) of a scandal in my office, that will hurt my chances, and also hurt PKR's chances.

"This is not a political issue now, but it could lead in that direction if it's not properly resolved soon," he said.

In his exposé on May 23, Wong criticised the Selangor government over what he said was a lack of transparent, fair and proper handling of an audit on the spending of the annual RM250,000 budget allocation to his office.

This later led to the suspension of his Monthly Welfare programme.

Explaining the facts and chronology of events, Wong said the state treasury informed him that it had audited his office accounts in May 2016, but only completed the audit 11 months later, in February this year.

He also said six findings of the audit were wrong, trivial and made without basis.

Selangor Menter Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali recently ticked off Wong for protesting the audit, saying that the latter should have discussed the matter with the state government rather than going public with it.

Wong, however, said he disagreed with Azmin, saying that he had written to the PKR-led government several times, but his queries went unanswered.

"I do not understand how I can have a discussion with the Selangor government which has consistently stonewalled me.

"This matter is now five months pending. In fact, I personally met Azmin at the PKR National Congress on May 21 and updated him on the situation. He promised he would ask the officer in charge to give me a reply," Wong said.

Wong further added that at least 400 struggling families have been deprived of welfare aid they received annually from his office after the Selangor government suspended his community spending allocation.

Wong, who had his annual allocation frozen, said the families were dependent on his office's support every year.

"These are mostly single mothers and also abandoned old people, who are from the Desa Mentari area," he said.

Wong's community spending was frozen last month by the state government, some four months after an audit found that his office was not "spending enough" for small projects or programmes under the annual MP allocation.

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