“We did not use them for personal purposes or political campaigns. In fact, the financial reports together with the unspent balances were fully submitted before July 10, in accordance with the guidelines and official directive issued by the Menteri Besar’s Office,” he told reporters at PH's Seremban Parliamentary Constituency Service Centre here today.

Also present were Bukit Kepayang assemblyman Nicole Tan, Choo Ken Hwa (Lukut), Chew Seh Yong (Lobak), Datuk Dr G. Rajasekaran (Sri Tanjung), Siau Meow Kong (Rahang) and Datuk Yew Boon Lye (Chuah).

Arul Kumar said approval for the disbursement of the allocations was made quarterly by the State Executive Council, rather than monthly, and there was no provision or condition in the letter from the Menteri Besar’s Office restricting monthly spending.

“The directive letter received only instructed that spending be made up to June 30 and that any unspent balance be returned before July 10, and all 17 assemblymen and two coordinators complied with it.

“Once the funds had been channelled to the people and organisations in need through legitimate channels before the dissolution, it would be extremely difficult to request the money back from the recipients,” he said.

In this regard, he hoped that the Negeri Sembilan state government would review the financial reports submitted and carefully reconsider its decision in the interest of fairness to all parties.

Arul Kumar said he was prepared to meet personally with the Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar to provide further clarification, while also allowing the state government to examine and review the financial reports submitted in greater detail.

Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim was reported to have said that 17 PH assemblymen and two state constituency coordinators from the previous term had been asked to return the allocations received for July to September within a month, following the dissolution of the State Assembly on June 5.

He said the decision was made after taking into account that the assemblymen and  coordinators, namely those for Paroi and Labu, no longer had any function after the dissolution of the state assembly.

-- BERNAMA