PM's remark on government aid is absolutely right - Anthony Loke

SEREMBAN - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's remark that government aid channelled to the people should not use the names and symbols of political parties should be followed by all parties.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the allocation was from the government and not from a single individual or party.

"The remark from the Prime Minister is absolutely right and all parties must obey. It was meant towards all parties, members of Parliament and ministers.

"So, the government's allocation should only have one symbol which is the national coat of arms," he said at a press conference after handing over a cheque for the People's Friendly Project (PMR) allocation worth RM324,668.67 to Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Dato Sheikh Ahmad here on Saturday.

The Seremban Member of Parliament (MP) said that he had always used the national coat of arms logo on any cheque replica he distributed to any party if it was an allocation under his Parliament.

In fact, he said that he had never put his name on it. Instead, it was only written from the Seremban Member of Parliament's Community Service Centre.

"The service centre is not the Anthony Loke Siew Fook Service Centre, but the Member of Parliament's, so the Member of Parliament is just an institution," he said.

Previously, a Chinese newspaper reported that several allocations were given to several schools including Chinese primary schools in Perak.

The report had then gone viral as the cheque replica handed over to the school had a DAP party logo placed next to the national coat of arms.

Meanwhile, in regard to the allocation given to the school, Anthony said that it was aimed to build an open hall with a roof for the students since the school did not have a hall and also a field.

He added that so far, in Seremban Parliament, he had approved 28 projects under PMR involving an allocation of RM1.5 million.

"Mostly, for projects to improve facilities and maintenance at schools.

"I give priority to schools because for me, schools are the most important place to build human capital which is a long-term investment for the country," he said.

He added that he understands that the Malaysian Education Ministry is unable to take care of all schools and that it is the role of every MP to help each other.