KUCHING: The Democratic Action Party (DAP) will work hard in order to rebound after the nail-biting national political events that happened in the past couple of weeks.
Its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng emphasised this during the party’s fundraising dinner at Crown Imperial Hall last Saturday.
He said the country had reached a critical junction in its journey. The aim was the creation of a new Malaysia where the people not only have democracy but also integrity, respect and equality.
However, he said, what were fought for in the 2018 elections had not come to fruition as a new government had been formed without election.
Lim assured DAP supporters that the party would not surrender and would continue to struggle “to bring the light back”.
The former finance minister then claimed that Pakatan Harapan (PH) government gave the biggest allocation to Sarawak in the 2020 National Budget.
“We approved an allocation of RM1.3 billion for management expenditure and RM4.4 billion for development expenditure — the largest amounts allocated to Sarawak … never done by the previous government.
“On Sarawak’s dilapidated schools, the Sarawak government said it wanted to pay back the RM1-billion loan it took from the federal government.
“When we have received the payments, we intended to use the funds to repair and upgrade the dilapidated schools,” he said.
Regarding the cost of the Pan Borneo Highway (LBU) which he said was too expensive (RM21.8 billion) and after reviews were made, the cost was reduced to RM18.8 billion (saving RM3 billion).
“With RM3 billion saved, we return it to Sarawak to build other roads, drains and so on,” he said.
The fundraising dinner themed, ‘Seeking Truth and Justice’ also saw the presence of Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen, Sarawak DAP assistant secretary cum Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen, Sarawak DAP advisor Chong Siew Chiang, Sarawak DAP state committee cum Pelawan assemblyman David Wong Kee Woan, Sarawak Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) chariman Abang Khalil Abang Naili, Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim Chee Keong, Sarawak Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (LPKP) chairman cum Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei, Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong Wui Wui and former Pujut assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon.
