Lau was responding to a forwarded letter issued to the Selangor State Assembly Secretary, Mohd Yasin Bidin from the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti), announcing that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has agreed to issue an AP to all state assemblypersons.In a statement, Lau said that if the federal government wanted to improve the benefits of state assemblypersons, it should allocate funds to the state government instead.
"The state government can then issue the payments either directly to the state assemblypersons or into their constituency allocation account, Either way would be very much welcomed," he added.
Lau also questioned the need for an AP as elected representatives are already entitled to buy a duty free vehicle under a Finance Ministry circular.
Assuaging fears of abuse, he said that Selangor Pakatan assemblypersons will meet to discuss what to do with the APs and assured that any decisions would be carried out transparently.
When contacted, opposition leader Mohd Khir Toyo dismissed the AP as "nothing new" stating that a premium still has to be paid for the imported car according to the letter from Miti.
Asked what he would do with his AP, Khir said: "For me, one car is enough".
Based on the present system, a car importer needs to acquire an AP from Miti which is fixed at RM10,000 before bringing in foreign vehicles but the demand for AP in the marketplace can fetch as high as RM40,000.
news courtesy of Malaysiakini
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