KUCHING, Oct 27: The SUPP Batu Kawah service centre is practising discrimination against voters over basic infrastructure under Projek Rakyat, alleges Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen.
Questioning Batu Kawah assemblyman Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian today, Chong asked if Project Rakyat is meant to improve basic infrastructure for the people or was it a project to fish for vote.
He claimed that Dr Sim’s service centre had discriminated against a landowner recently who approached them with a request to tar-surface the road leading to his house under Project Rakyat.
“However, the landowner’s request was rejected by the SUPP (Sarawak United Peoples’ Party) Batu Kawah service centre, for the reason being that he is a registered voter in the Batu Kitang constituency even though his house is situated at Sungai Moyan under the Batu Kawah constituency. It is his right to have his road tar-paved and no one can unjustly deprive him of such rights,” Chong asserted.
The small gravel road stretch leading to the landowner’s house is about 100 metres.
Labelling the service centre’s response abhorrent, Chong pointed out that Project Rakyat allocations are meant to improve the basic road infrastructure of the area, and are not to be associated with the voting area of an applicant.
He asserted that even if the applicant is not a registered voter in the area when his or her house is situated in the area for which the fund is allocated, the request must be attended to.
“Is a Batu Kitang voter not a Sarawakian? (Is it) funds from the Sarawak government, which belong to the people of Sarawak in the first place cannot be utilised for his benefit?
“So much has been self-claimed by SUPP that they fight for the rights of Sarawakians. However, the actual fact seems to be that the SUPP leaders are so territorial minded that they will discriminate against another Sarawakian who is not voting in his area,” Chong lamented.
Chong pointed out that both Batu Kitang and Batu Kawah constituencies are areas held by SUPP elected representatives.
He questioned that if the two assemblymen were not even prepared to help the voters in each other’s area, what can be expected of them by Sarawakians from other constituencies?
“The duty of any elected member of the State Assembly is not only confined to his area and his voters but to the whole of Sarawak and all Sarawakians. More so the duty of a full minister. Leaders of such parochial minds cannot be tasked to defend and fight for the rights of Sarawak and all Sarawakians,” Chong added.
Chong revealed he will officially write in to relevant authorities to pursue the matter on behalf of the landowner. — DayakDaily
