KLANG, MALAYSIA: All the 54 Barisan Nasional assemblymen in the previous state administration finished their combined annual allocation of RM27mil for 2008 in the first 50 days of the year, Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu revealed.

"There was shock and disbelief when the state executive councilors found out that the allocation of RM500,000 each meant for repairing roads and drains had been used up by February," he said.

The state government would ask the 36 former Barisan assemblymen and the 18 who retained their seats to explain how the allocations were used, the State Local Government, Study and Research Committee chairman told reporters after visiting the Klang Municipal Council here yesterday.

Liu said Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim decided last week to seek an explanation from the assemblymen to ensure accountability.

"Letters will be sent out to the assemblymen within the week, and they must give a detailed account on how the allocation was used and who the contractors were," he said.

"We want to know how the ratepayers' money was used."

Liu said the assemblymen in the present government were forced to ask for another RM500,000 each to give the services in their constituencies.

"We're going to come out with a new method where every sen spent will be accounted for," he said.