Editor’s note: Corrects an earlier version of this story which mistakenly referred to the grants as Minor Rural Project (MRP).
By Geryl Ogilvy
KUCHING, May 2: Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong questions whether the state government will follow through with its intention to provide grants to opposition lawmakers.
She said opposition members from the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) have yet to receive a single sen since Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg announced that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)-led state government was considering such provision.
“I can only say that Sarawak GPS is full of hypocrisy. It has already been a year since the Chief Minister promised that he will be fair and just to allocate funds to the opposition elected representatives but until now, I declare to this august House that we, on the opposition bench, have not seen a single sen,” Yong said when debating the TYT’s speech at the DUN sitting here today.
Abang Johari, when delivering his winding-up speech in the DUN sitting last July, said the state government will consider providing funds to opposition state representatives, as reciprocal allocation, should the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government provide similar allocation to GPS members.
He announced a ceiling of RM1 million allocation for each GPS state assemblyman for their respective constituencies to implement the house repair programme under the Hardcore Poor People’s Housing Project (PPRT) last year.
“Our chief minister had repeatedly claimed that only Sarawak GPS can protect and fight for Sarawakians but I can tell you Sarawak GPS memang ‘cakap tak serupa bikin’ (not walking the talk).
“Sarawak GPS must understand that whatever allocation and funding from the state are meant for serving Sarawakians including those living in opposition constituencies,” Yong said.
She pointed out that PH federal government had respected democracy by allocating funds to Sarawak GPS MPs.
“All the GPS MPs had received their respective allocations from the Pakatan federal government.
“I thus urge the Sarawak GPS under the leadership (sic) to stop playing hostility (sic) towards the people from opposition constituencies. Sarawak GPS must not bear grouses just because the seats are in the good hands of DAP (Democratic Action Party) and PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat). It is the people’s choice and thus the Sarawak GPS government must respect,” she claimed.
She urged Abang Johari to act on the matter immediately by channeling the funds to the opposition lawmakers. — DayakDaily
