KUCHING, Oct 17: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) holds that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government should demand a refund from the Federal government for the funds used to build bridge projects cancelled by Pakatan Harapan (PH) during its 22 months in power.
Its president Voon Lee Shan said the refund should be made because building these bridges was the federal government’s responsibility.
In a statement today, he said the PH government, during its 22-month reign, had failed to put sufficient effort into solving the economic and social problems that Sarawakians were facing.
He claimed the PH government only made decisions that benefited Peninsular Malaysia when Sarawak badly needed healthcare services, roads, schools, and the return of all its oil and gas revenue taken by the Federal government.
To him, the PH government should know that Sarawak needed to catch up with Peninsular Malaysia in terms of developments, and they should focus more on developing Sabah and Sarawak.
“The cancellation of the already approved projects for the Batang Lupar, Batang Igan, and Batang Rambungan bridges and diverting the funds allocated for these bridges for the northern part of Sarawak for the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR) was a big mistake.
“Another fund should be allocated for this SSLR by the PH government,” said Voon, adding that Sarawak has been short-changed all these years.
While pointing out the shortcomings of the PH government, Voon did not forget to highlight that the cancellation of the construction of these bridges also shows the GPS government’s incapability to convince the PH government not to cancel these projects.
“Instead, the GPS government had caused the State to spend money for their (the bridges’) construction. The money should be used for other economic development for the rural people.
“Being a kingmaker, the GPS government should demand from the Federal government to repay the fund use to build these bridges because the building of these bridges was the responsibility of the Federal government,” said Voon. — DayakDaily
