KUCHING: Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen has faced criticism for his claim that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state elected representatives receive ‘seven times more allocations’ than federal government MPs.
Kho Teck Wan, a political secretary to the Premier of Sarawak, clarified that each MP receives RM4mil annually from the federal government, while GPS elected state representatives receive RM9mil each per year.
“So, how can RM9mil be ‘seven times more than RM4mil’?” she questioned.
“Although the GPS elected state representatives receive RM9mil each per year, RM7mil is strictly for infrastructure, agriculture development, and house repairs in their respective constituencies.”
An additional RM2mil is earmarked for financial grants to NGOs. Kho, the Sarawak United People’s Party Women chief, said that the Sarawak government maintained transparent and strict control of public funds to ensure appropriate usage.
She urged Chong, as the Stampin MP and Padungan assemblyman, to focus on securing more financial grants from the federal government to better serve the people and voters. She believed that increased grants from both federal and state governments would benefit the people, the area, and NGOs.
“Thus, it’s really disappointing to see Chong, as the opposition leader, politicising such an issue (allocation for each constituency) and misleading the public.
“What’s the point of keeping on stressing that MPs are getting less allocation compared to the GPS state assemblymen?
“If he is sincere about serving the people, he will be fighting for more allocations for his areas and his voters instead of claiming he has less allocation – does this mean that he is incapable of doing anything (just because he is receiving less allocation)?”
Kho suggested that it might be time for the public to consider choosing someone who takes proactive action for the people’s wellbeing rather than focusing on allocation complaints.
