By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, Feb 2: As Pakatan Harapan (PH) has formed the federal government and in view of the economic downturn, Democratic Action Party (DAP) Miri has decided not to send out its lion dance teams during Chinese New Year to raise funds.
Its Pujut assemblyman, Dr Ting Tiong Choon, said DAP Miri had been sending out its `lions’ every Chinese New Year for the last 30 years as the party needed the money then to help fund its operations.
“No more DAP lion dance teams to raise funds,” he said in a statement today.
He explained that the PH federal government and PH-led state governments had been providing funds to all elected representatives, including those from opposition parties and independents.
“This PH policy is applaudable as it enables all elected members to provide services to their constituents.
“In addition, there is also an allocation for the operational expenses of all members’ service centres.
“We are also grateful that Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, through the Prime Minister’s Office, has also provided some funding for all PH lawmakers in opposition-controlled states, including Sarawak, in 2019.
“These special funding from the PMO allow PH’s ADUNs in Sarawak to service their constituencies more effectively,” said Dr Ting.
However, Dr Ting lamented that what happened on May 9 last year had not awakened the Sarawak government, with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg still not giving any allocation to opposition elected representatives despite calls by PH ADUNs and the public.
He said ever since the formation of Malaysia, opposition lawmakers in Sarawak had not been given any money to service their respective constituencies.
“It is this unfair policy of starving opposition members of fund allocation that indirectly affected the voters in the constituents,” claimed Dr Ting.
On DAP Miri, Dr Ting said it would not be what it is today if not for the strong support from Miri folk.
“We are grateful to the public for the support and encouragement to DAP Miri since its establishment 35 years ago,” said Dr Ting. — DayakDaily
