By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, July 10: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng has dismissed claims that the Council failed to act on the drainage problem at Lorong Kedandi 2 in Tabuan Jaya, stressing that the project had been officially submitted for federal funding well before any third-party intervention.
Responding to Michael Kong, special assistant to Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen, who accused MBKS of neglecting the area and credited the federal government for stepping in, Wee said the accusation was misleading and failed to reflect the actual process involved in securing funds for public infrastructure upgrades.
“Someone said that the Council failed to do our role, that we didn’t resolve the drainage issue in a certain area, and then claimed they got the Federal Minister’s support to approve the funding for it.
“Well, when credit is due, we won’t jump in and take it from others who genuinely did something good for the rakyat.
“But let’s also be fair. Everyone in the Council, or even in government—whether you’re a member of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) or a member of Parliament—knows that every year we have to apply for funding to carry out extra repair works. That’s the process,” he said during a press conference at MBKS building here today.
Wee clarified that MBKS had included the Lorong Kedandi 2 drainage upgrade in its 2024 budget proposal (BP) along with 40 other projects totalling more than RM9 million in requested federal funds.
Of this, MBKS received RM1 million and allocated a portion to the Lorong Kedandi 2 drainage upgrade based on priority needs.
“Documentation cannot lie. We have the list. This project was put up last year, and we submitted it again this year.
“So don’t mislead the public. We are doing our job and we know where the scope of our job is,” he said while holding up documents listing the project applications.
He also questioned how a political aide could claim to have secured funding without knowing the technical scope or budget, pointing out that council infrastructure projects must go through formal processes including planning, bidding and tender.
“If anyone can go straight to the Minister and secure funding just like that, then what’s the point of having YBs? What’s the point of councils applying and bidding for funds?
“We submitted 41 project proposals worth over RM9 million. So can those be helped or not? Can?” he questioned.
Wee stressed that MBKS, like all local councils, is required to apply for funds annually for maintenance and upgrade works, particularly under the Marris Fund and other Federal allocations. All such works, he said, follow standard procedures involving planning, documentation and public tender.
He stressed that MBKS is always open to cooperation and welcomes support for improving public infrastructure, but urged political aides and representatives not to twist the narrative for credit.
“If you really love Sarawak, do more for Sarawakians. Don’t just claim credit and tell people we’re not doing our job. We have been trying our best to serve,” he said.
On July 8, Kong in a statement, claimed that MBKS had failed to address long-standing drainage issues at Lorong Kedandi 2 despite repeated complaints from residents.
He said it was only after the matter was escalated to the Federal Ministry that funding was approved, calling it a reflection of MBKS’s inefficiency. – DayakDaily
