KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing (pic) said Pakatan Harapan (PH) or any institution or individual giving funds to the federal government’s Village Community Management Council (MPKK) should be charged under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFA).
“The establishment of MPKK is illegal in Sarawak and allocating funds to an entity like MPKK is therefore illegal,” he said.
Masing, who is Infrastructure and Ports Development Minister, said the state government only recognises the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK), so he reiterated that the setting up of MPKK in Sarawak is illegal.
Section 3 of AMLATFA defines money laundering as the act of a person who engages, directly or indirectly, in a transaction that involves “proceeds of any unlawful activity”; acquires, receives, possesses,
disguises, transfers, converts, exchanges, carries, disposes, uses, removes from or brings into
Malaysia “proceeds of any unlawful activity”; or conceals, disguises or impedes the establishment of the true nature, origin, location, movement, disposition, title of, rights with respect to, or ownership of, “proceeds of any unlawful
activity”.
There have also been accusations that as the members of the MPKK selection committee are all PH component party members, the council is thus nothing more than an effort of the PH government at legalising payments out of the Federal Consolidated Fund to PH component party operatives.
There are also opinions that MPKK is at least in the short term a political election tool and not meant for providing genuine service to the people.
It is said that after the next state election, MPKK would be dismantled by Sarawak PH which (despite being a little brother of Malaya PH) wants to have control over who they appoint as community leaders.
Meanwhile, political commentator Datuk Peter Minos said it was clear that the PH federal government’s MPKK idea was one in a series of attempts to disturb and destabilise Sarawak politically.
Minos believes that if an MPKK is set up in every village and longhouse and given funds, it would challenge the legally established JKKKs, thus creating havoc, disunity, and ill feelings among the rural people.
“This is totally unacceptable. It is simply not good to the existing unity and harmony in Sarawak,” he said.
“Worse is when PH leaders kept on saying that they intended to topple the state government and take over Sarawak.”
Minos said no Sarawakian in his or her right mind want Malaya-based party like PH to rule and govern Sarawak.
“Malayans do not really know Sarawak or understand Sarawakians, while the Sarawak PH people are merely puppets and runners out only to please their Malayan bosses,” he said.
