KUCHING, June 18: DAP Sarawak’s initiative of ferrying those without transport to Covid-19 vaccination centres will continue albeit criticism.
This is the view of Michael Kong, a special assistant to Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chief Chong Chieng Jen who is also Kota Sentosa assemblyman.
“Political stunt or not, what matters is the activities (of ferrying those needing transport to go for vaccination) that DAP introduces helps the people directly.
“Till today, many contacted DAP to seek assistance to ferry them to the various vaccination centres. This initiative also helps to encourage people to register for the Covid-19 vaccination, particularly those who may opt not to register because they do not have transport to the vaccination centres,” said Kong in a statement today.
He said apart from offering direct assistance to those who need it, the initiative of providing transport for vaccinees also indirectly helps the taxi industry.
“The initiative as announced by YB Chong Chieng Jen also serves the taxi industry which has been battered by the Covid-19 pandemic. With no tourists coming into the State, they have all lost their source of income for the last one year,” said Kong.
To Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Youth secretary general Milton Foo, Kong challenged the former to come out with more elaborate and comprehensive packages to help the people in these hard times where Covid-19 continues to bring upon damage to lives and livelihood.
“Thus far, SUPP especially Milton Foo has yet to do anything beneficial for the people out of its own initiative.
“The recent distribution of food aid as announced under BKSS 6.0 was a programme by the Welfare Department but was hijacked by SUPP to be its political agenda,” said Kong.
Rebutting Foo’s statement alleging that DAP Sarawak’s initiative of providing transport for vaccinees to vaccination centres as seeking cheap publicity, Kong stressed that DAP Sarawak’s initiative was just its part in helping to combat Covid-19.
“On one hand, the government is asking everyone to play their part in helping to combat Covid-19. With that, DAP took it upon itself to make the vaccine more accessible by offering free transportation service to the vaccination centres. Yet, on the other hand, Milton Foo is effectively saying DAP should do nothing at all.
“So rather than just seeking cheap publicity in the press by making nonsensical comments, I urge Milton Foo to either come up with more constructive ways to help the people at this point in time or just to zip it,” said Kong.— DayakDaily
