KUCHING, Aug 20: Are there any loopholes in the distribution of Sarawakku Sayang Special Assistance (BKSS) stimulus packages when so many citizens claimed help did not reach them?
This was the question brought forward by Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan when he said it is high time for Sarawak government to review BKSS to ensure effectiveness of the programme.
“Although the State government had dished out six iterations of BKSS worth about RM4.5 billion to fight this Covid-19 pandemic and to help Sarawakians and businesses in these difficult times, too many people said help did not reach them.
“The State government needs to review how the money was spent or how the food aid was distributed so that citizens hit hard by the pandemic could get proper help,” he said.
Voon said many have complained that they did not receive any food assistance from the government and for those who did, they said the food baskets contained very few items and could only last them for several days.
“They said it was a one-time handout and after that, they never received any. The long period of pandemic has caused much suffering to them. Since the sum (of BKSS) is huge, the public has the right to know how the money was spent.
“The State government has to be transparent on how this RM4.5 billion was spent and it is proper for the State government to come with a proper audit report to be examined by the public,” he said in a statement today.
Stressing that Sarawak’s economy has not been successfully revived although the State government has spent a huge amount of funds, Voon said “something could be wrong somewhere” and that review of these strategies could be helpful in implementing more effective measures in the near future. — DayakDaily
