By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, Feb 21: The roles of parliamentary coordinators appointed by the federal government for Sarawak is aimed at promoting government’s policies and ensuring the projects announced by federal government are being carried out.
Works Minister Baru Bian stressed that their roles were to ensure the programmes and projects under the federal government’s five-year development plan were being carried out accordingly.
He outlined that parliamentary coordinators were the supervisors in ensuring public funds were being utilised for the benefits of the people at the respective constituencies.
“The parliamentary coordinators represent the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government in parliamentary seats held by the opposition.
“They are to promote and implement the federal government’s policies and strengthen relationship between the government and the public.
“The government’s concern on issues faced by the rakyat will be raised and expressed directly through those parliamentary coordinators.
“They will be responsible for the delivery and implementation of projects set out to meet the needs of the people who are displaced from the current development,” he said before presenting certificates of appointment to 19 parliamentary coordinators at a hotel here.
Meanwhile, the parliamentary seats for 19 parliamentary coordinators were Santubong, Petra Jaya, Kota Samarahan, Serian, Batang Sadong, Batang Lupar, Sri Aman, Betong, Tanjong Manis, Igan, Kanowit, Mukah, Kapit, Hulu Rajang, Bintulu, Sibuti, Baram, Limbang and Lawas.
Baru, who is also Sarawak State Development Action Council chairman, added the parliamentary coordinators served as a channel for the people to communicate their problems to the leaders of federal government.
“We want to ensure the people of Sarawak are not left behind in terms of development in particular those projects that we allocated to the state from the federal government.
“I believe these reflects the seriousness of the federal government in communicating our policies and development programmes for Sarawak to the people,” he added.
Baru revealed that each parliamentary coordinator representing their constituency would receive the prime minister’s special allocation of RM500,000 annually.
He pointed out that the funds were to be approved by the Prime Minister’s Department Implementation Coordination Unit’s director-general and state development director.
He disclosed that the special allocation was a public fund and had to be utilised during the current year.
Baru, who is state Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chief stated that the appointment of 19 parliamentary coordinators was the third channel that the federal government had created to reach out and help the people, especially those in the rural areas.
He noted two other channels that the federal government had initiated include the Federal Village Community Management Councils (MPKKP) and the Komuniti Harapan Malaysia (KHM).
He revealed that to date, there were 3,900 units of MPKKP.
As for KHM, Baru said it was set up by the Ministry of Communication and Multimedia last year.
According to national news agency, Bernama, Communication and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo in an event last July said the formation of KHM was to help disseminate government’s policies, fulfil’s the people’s aspiration and to strengthen unity among the people.
He then revealed that 1,428 units of KHM was targeted to be set up throughout Malaysia and 658 units had been approved for establishment in the first phase while subsequent phases would be formed in stages.
Gobind explained that based on the plan, KHM would be set up with at least 50 people from the local community with 15 committee members who would administer the KHM while 35 others would be ordinary members.
He then emphasised that the implementation of KHM as a government strategic partner through the platforms provided by the Information Department would also be the medium to inculcate and develop the spirit of solidarity and tolerance in the Malaysian community of various races and religions. —DayakDaily
