THE Federal Government has been urged to set up an independent grant council to ensure fair allocations for all states.
Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar (PN-Kemaman) said it was time to introduce the new mechanism, as practised in Australia and Pakistan, so that allocations were made without political sentiments.
“This is to ensure allocations to states are made objectively and not influenced by partisan political sentiments, which ultimately harm the people,” he said when debating the Budget 2025 Bill in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
The Terengganu Mentri Besar said that while he welcomed the allocations provided for his state under Budget 2025, he claimed there were performance-based “conditions” set for certain states.
To address the matter, Ahmad Samsuri suggested a clearer method of disbursement to ensure states categorised as less developed were not neglected.
“For transparency, it is appropriate that the Federal Government provide reports (on allocations) to be made accessible to the public,” he said.
Ahmad Samsuri also urged the government to implement reforms for the National Finance Council.
“In achieving fiscal federalism balance, it would be better to implement reforms at the functional and operational levels, so that it becomes a forum and space for the states to develop and progress,” he added.
