KUCHING, Sept 12: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing today attempted to school Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong that the Jiwa Murni road programme in Sarawak was a federal government initiative for the primary purpose of road connectivity in the rural areas.
He said that the only ‘connection’ the road project had with the Sarawak government was that it allowed the federal government to use the land for the purpose of road construction.
“The government of Sarawak doesn’t provide funds to build Jiwa Murni roads, nor do we appoint contractors to build the roads under Jiwa Murni initiative in Sarawak. It’s all Federal government responsibilities.
“The only link Sarawak government has with Jiwa Murni road construction is to allow federal government to create access to rural areas using our land. It’s not using Sarawak fund.
“Why should we refuse assistance since we don’t have the fund and Federal government wants to construct for us, so we let them. What’s the problem with that?
“(So), DAP, please don’t reject kindness by others to improve access to our rural population,” Masing said in a statement issued here today.
Masing who is also Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development was responding to Padungan Assemblywoman Violet Yong who questioned Masing’s denial of the state government’s involvement in the Jiwa Murni rural road programme.
She pointed out that a news report on July 5 by DayakDaily had reported Masing as saying that the Sarawak Government had nothing to do with the Jiwa Murni road programme as it was under the purview of the Defence Ministry.
Masing’s clarification was in connection with the ongoing case of two local company directors who were charged in court by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for allegedly submitting false claims over the rural road projects in Sarawak. — DayakDaily
