KUCHING, August 12: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Youth secretary Milton Foo said financial constraint was just “an excuse” given by the federal government not to give Sarawak money to fight rabies.
Foo backed up his remark by pointing to the special federal grant of RM10 million given to Kedah recently.
He argued that Putrajaya ought to help Sarawak because the state was facing a “life-threatening disease”.
“It is the duty of the federal government, no doubt. You can’t give excuses, and no money is an excuse,” said Foo, with reference to the recent announcement that due to financial constraints, the federal government would not be extending aid to the state to fight rabies.
Foo demanded the 12 state Pakatan Harapan (PH) MPs, especially Sarawak PH chairman Chong Chieng Jen (who is a deputy minister) and Baru Bian (who is a minister), to explain what they had done to protect the lives of Sarawakians.
“You are the elected representatives of the people of Sarawak in Parliament and you are to safeguard their interests, especially when we face this kind of life-threatening disease — rabies.
“If you said that the federal government has no money to provide vaccination for rabies, why do you have the special grant to Kedah of RM10 million recently?” asked Foo, during a press conference at Sarawak United Peoples’ Party headquarters here.
He said the RM10 million given to Kedah was proof the federal government had the money. When the decision was made, he wondered whether the federal government had thought that the lives of Sarawakians were not worth safeguarding.
“They can totally neglect the lives of Sarawakians. Are the lives of Sarawakians worth nothing but Kedah people yes (worth something)? This is intolerable,” said Foo. — DayakDaily
