By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Nov 26: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing said he would give minor rural project (MRP) grants to any non-governmental organisation (NGO) if they could give compelling reasons why they needed the aid.
He said he regarded all those who submitted their applications as “Anak Sarawak” and his decision whether to give the grants or not would not be affected by their (NGOs) political affiliations.
“You know, NGOs sometimes have their own minds. I do not choose. If they ask for assistance, they must have reasons to use it. So I give it to them, regardless of what their political affiliations are.
“That is important to us. Hopefully, they will bear that in mind. So long as they are ‘Anak Sarawak’, we will assist them,” said Masing to reporters after disbursing MRP grants amounting to RM459,500 to 46 NGOs in his office here today.
The money was from Phase 3 of his MRP Grants for this year, which he had distributed to Village Development and Security Committees (JKKKs), Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), NGOs, sports clubs and societies across the state.
Masing, who is also Baleh assemblyman, had presented such grants totalling RM1.082 million to 59 organisations in Kapit last week.
This brings the total number of recipients to 105, with the total amount of RM1.5415 million under Phase 3 of the MRP funds for 2018.
Also present at the simple ceremony today were political secretary to the Chief Minister Dato Sri Doris Sophia Brodie and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) secretary-general Dato Janang Bungsu. — DayakDaily
