DAP is pushing the Penang government to legislate equal constituency funding for all state assembly members, regardless of political affiliation.

The party's central executive committee has called for a Constituency Development Fund (CDF) law, with secretary-general Anthony Loke saying the same principle should eventually apply at the federal level and in every state.

Penang should take the opportunity to turn that principle into law.

Public money should serve voters

The current disparity in Penang is stark.

Government assemblymen receive RM500,000 a year in constituency allocations, while opposition assemblymen receive RM60,000.

That means a constituency represented by an opposition assemblyman has access to far less development funding, despite having the same public needs as any other constituency.

Roads still need repairs, drains still need maintenance, flooding still needs to be addressed and community facilities still need funding.

The political affiliation of an elected representative does not change any of that.

Constituency funding is public money. It should serve the people living in the constituency, not function as a reward for being on the government's side.

A promise is not enough

This is also why putting equal funding into law matters.

Equal constituency allocations were part of Pakatan Harapan's 2022 election promises, but the principle has yet to become a settled federal rule.

A funding policy can be changed when a new government takes over. Legislation creates a different standard.

A CDF law would establish clear rules that governments must follow rather than leaving the allocation of public funds entirely to political discretion.

It would not make the law impossible to change, but changing the system would require changing the law itself.

That is how a political commitment becomes an institutional reform.

Penang now has to act

Last month, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said he would wait for DAP's leadership to decide whether Penang should enact such a law, following calls from civil society for equal allocations.

DAP's CEC has now made its position clear. The next step, now, belongs to Penang.

This is also a test for DAP itself.

The party has long argued that opposition representatives should receive equal constituency funding. Now that it governs Penang, it has the opportunity to apply that principle while holding power.

That is more meaningful than asking Putrajaya to change.

The best way to demand reform from the federal government is to practise it first.

Make equality the rule

Penang should also look beyond simply equalising the amount.

If the state is going to legislate CDF, the law should include clear spending rules, public disclosure and proper auditing.

Residents should be able to see how much their constituency receives, what the money is used for and who benefits from funded projects.

Equal funding without transparency would only solve half the problem.

The goal should be to make constituency funding fair, predictable and accountable, regardless of who holds the seat.

Penang can lead by example

Perak and Kelantan already provide equal funding to government and opposition representatives. Penang therefore does not have to prove that equal allocations are possible.

It can go a step further by putting the principle into law.

That would give the state something more valuable than another political promise, a system that can serve as a practical example for the rest of Malaysia.

Governments change. Parties change. Constituencies change hands.

The public should not have to worry that development funding will change with them.

Penang has been given the chance to show that constituency funding does not have to be a political tool.

Putrajaya can keep debating equal allocations while Penang can show Malaysia what it looks like when equality is written into law.