SIBU, Oct 12: The Opposition has been taken to task for what Deputy Premier of Sarawak Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian has described as “standing on the sidelines” when it comes to handling the flood situation in Sibu.
“Anybody thinks that they can solve the flood problem straight away. I want to ask them: when you were in power, when you were the minister, why didn’t you do it if it is so easy?” said Dr Sim at the presentation of Housing Deposit Assistance Scheme (HDAS) and Mutiara Rumah Spektra Housing Programme today.
Dr Sim said there were some politicians including some opportunists who only addressed the flood issue outside of Parliament, but once inside, they did nothing.
He said when he joined politics in 2011 and contested in his first election, the Opposition chided him and urged the people not to vote for him but to send him back to hospital as he is a good doctor.
“The second time, they said send him to the hospital again or else who is going to take care of cancer patients; who is going to build your satellite heart centre,” he said.
Dr Sim called on the people to be united in developing the State.
“I hope all of us can do it together. I need your help. It’s for our people, Sarawakians, and we are Sarawakian and I hope that we can all do it together,” he said.
Meanwhile speaking at the event, Mutiara Mortgage & Credit chief executive officer Shaharony Mat Nor said they had so far approved a total of 1,300 applications from B40 and M40 groups for the home financing scheme at an interest rate of only one per cent and at 100 per cent full loan.
“I am glad to share that 94 per cent of the amount are those from the low-income group (B40) working in private companies, not having a stable income and self-employed,” he said.
Mat Nor said the applicants had a good repayment record and none had zero non-performing loan.
As for HDAS, he said they had received a total of 500 applications involving RM4 million from people intending to build their own house on their land under the Rumah Spektra Housing Programme.
Of the number, RM3 million from 350 applications or 71 per cent of them were approved belonging to the B40 group. — DayakDaily
