KUCHING, Feb 22: SUPP Women chief Kho Teck Wan has slammed the federal government’s appointment of 19 parliamentary coordinators in Sarawak that was aimed to ensure development projects were duly implemented.
She described such appointments as “wasting the people’s money” and unnecessary amid Sarawak being an opposition state under the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
“This latest political appointments will cost tax payers RM9.5 million annually. This in addition to the Federal Village Community Management Council (MPKKP), which would cost RM70 million annually,” she said in a statement.
Works Minister Baru Bian, who presented the appointment letters yesterday, said each parliamentary coordinator will be allocated public fund of RM500,000 annually to be utilised in accordance to the prime minister’s directive.
Kho criticised such spending, which she deemed as demonstrating Pakatan Harapan (PH) government’s inability to manage the country’s economy, which grew at only 3.6 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2019.
“So instead of busy creating more public posts and appointing PH’s own members to the posts, the government should focus on the urgent issues facing Malaysia, notably to rescue the sluggish economy,” she said.
She claimed this latest political appointment contradicted Pakatan’s election promise, which was to eliminate political appointment and hire based on merit.
“What are the job descriptions of the parliamentary coordinator? How would the RM500,000 rakyat’s money be spent? Are the appointments done based on merit?” she asked.
She urged Baru to fight and realise Pakatan’s election promises, especially to return the 50 per cent tax collected, five per cent oil royalty, as well as education and healthcare autonomy back to Sarawak.
Baru said that the coordinators represented Pakatan administration to promote and implement its policies and to strengthen the relationship between the government and the people.
He added that their main role was to ensure programmes and projects under the federal government’s five-year development plan were carried out accordingly.
The coordinators were appointed in parliamentary constituencies not held by Pakatan in Sarawak, in order to serve as another channel of communication in addition to the MPKKP and Komuniti Harapan Malaysia. — DayakDaily
