LOOKS like the road to Selangau will not get any attention from Works Minister Baru Bian. Speaking to the press yesterday, the Selangau MP said the road in Selangau belongs to the state.
“I want to clarify that the issue of the road in Selangau (being in poor shape) is actually a state road, under the purview of the state.”
The minister also insisted that he is not afraid of his superiors in the federal government.
In the august House yesterday, Baru was chided by Infrastructure and Ports Development Assistant Minister Datuk Julaihi Narawi (GPS-Sebuyau) for being afraid to ask for more development funds from Putrajaya.
“I have never been more disappointed with the allegations that I am not fighting for Sarawak’s interests and the people in Selangau,” he said in a press conference after a heated exchange.
He said the nation is in a state of financial constraint and the decision to limit the number of projects is due to the financial situation.
“This is not because we are not prioritising Sarawak. Being a responsible government, we cannot simply approve projects to be popular without acknowledging the financial outlook.
“Money does not fall from the sky, this is the people’s money, we need to spend it properly because it is the trust of the people,” he expressed.
Baru revealed that MPs in Dewan Rakyat are free to express their displeasure and discuss issues in Dewan Rakyat without fear or favour.
“In the last budget, special focus has been given to Sarawak and Sabah, don’t belittle the allocation, it is important that the prime minister (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) recognised the need to give substantial allocation to Sarawak and Sabah.
“In the state budget, I thanked the state government for taking over the federal projects such as the three bridges. That is how we can play our role in a federation together and it is important that we don’t politicise development.”
To a question, Baru explained that MPKKP (federal Village Community Management Council) is not illegal or improper.
“In the end it is for the benefit of the rakyat. That is how we look at it.”
