KUCHING, Feb 22: PKR Batang Sadong branch committee members have today opposed the appointment of Jamilah Baharuddin as the parliamentary coordinator for the constituency.
This was raised following the appointment of 19 parliamentary coordinators to represent the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government in parliamentary seats held by the opposition in Sarawak.
In a statement issued, the committee members said they, including the branch chief, were not consulted on the appointment.
“We were made to understand that the appointment was made by important parties who intend to boost the merit of Jamilah as potential candidate for Simunjan constituency in the coming state election.
“This clearly demonstrates the abuse of power. There also seems to be elements of cronyism and nepotism in the appointment due to the links between Batang Sadong parliamentary coordinator and Petra Jaya parliamentary coordinator with Sarawak leadership council (MPN) deputy chairman (Baharuddin Mokhsen).”
The parliamentary coordinator for Petra Jaya is Nurhanim Mokhsen.
Outlining that Jamilah was Baharuddin’s daughter, and Nurhanim his sibling, they added that Baharuddin was also seen at the appointment of the parliamentary coordinators officiated by Works Minister Baru Bian yesterday.
They were also of the opinion that a local from Batang Sadong was more appropriate to take the role than Jamilah who was not.
“This appointment was unfair as it seemed to disregard and undervalue the abilities of Batang Sadong people.
“Moreover, a person from Batang Satong will better understand the needs and wants of the people. We can accept any appointment even from PH components so long as he or she is a local of Batang Sadong and not an outsider.”
They also claimed that Jamilah’s membership was not under PKR Batang Sadong branch but a member of the Petra Jaya branch where she was the division’s Keadilan Youth deputy chief.
“It is strange that members of other branches can be appointed to represent federal government for our area.
“Since the branch’s first meeting in October 2018 and during the branch Annual General Meeting, we have suggested that Batang Sadong branch chief Piee Ling be given authority as parliamentary coordinator.”
Meanwhile, Baru who is the State Development Action Council (MPN) chairman, said that each parliamentary coordinator will be allocated public fund of RM500,000 annually to be utilised in accordance to the Prime Minister’s directive.
On the role of the coordinators, they will represent the PH administration to promote and implement its policies and to strengthen the relationship between the government and the people as well as to make sure that programmes and projects under the Federal Government’s five-year development plan were carried out accordingly.—DayakDaily
