Opposition lawmaker welcomes proposed MRP allocation
KUCHING: Bukit Assek assemblywoman Irene Chang is happy that Sarawak opposition assemblypersons may receive minor rural project (MRP) allocation soon.
“This is a healthy development in our political landscape and I hope that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government will emulate all the good policies of governance by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Federal Government,” she said in a press statement yesterday.
She noted that opposition members in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) have over the years raised this issue, citing that the people in the oppositionheld constituencies should not be punished by being denied development funds.
“Under the Barisan Nasional (BN) government, this had all fallen on deaf ears, in spite of the then Opposition states of Penang and Selangor leading the way by allocating funds to their state opposition members. I, too, have raised this issue in my Dewan Debate in June 2016 and again raised a motion on the same issue in November 2016. And in fact, this is one of the questions which I will again raise in this coming Dewan Sitting and which have already been submitted on June 20.”
The numerous calls by the opposition members reflect the urgent need for these funds for the needs of our constituencies, she said.
“I therefore hope that what we hear now is not just rumours but something which would surely be announced by the Chief Minister in the coming Dewan Sitting.”
Irene said when the Sarawak Government left the BN fold to form the coalition of GPS, the people in Sarawak doubted that the old wine in new wineskin would be any different from the previous administration.
“This is logical thinking and the GPS government has to expect that. GPS coalition therefore has a lot to prove themselves to the people. Be that as it may, I like to say that it is not impossible to change provided that the change has to come from within the coalition party. If the coalition party in GPS is smart and want to stay relevant in Sarawak, I urge those sitting in the cabinet and in the coalition party, to start that change by rooting out all that is undesirable in their previous administration. They should not, like the previous BN Federal Government, continue to turn a deaf ear to the cries of the people even if those cries come from the Opposition members in the state.”
She noted that so many corruption scandals involving the previous government have come to light since the PH Government took over. Sarawak has its fair share of scandals like the recent RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project.
The DAP assemblywoman said if GPS government was genuine about changing, it should not only change in name but also many of their policies which were not in the best interest of the people.
She listed out such policies like ensuring all state projects should go through open tender to ensure more transparency in the awarding of contracts.
“This should be urgently considered and implemented as it will prevent possible corruption perception like the recent cry over the proposed coastal road project and second trunk road project,” she said.
She added that reforms in the local government were also urgently required. There have been constant complaints that councillors of local authorities were more inclined to make decisions based on their political leanings rather than making unbiased decisions.
“This is very unhealthy and the state government is urged to look into these complaints and I propose that to prevent constant speculation, they should introduce local election of persons who have no political affiliations to sit in the Council. This would be a good way to address this problem. I shall bring these issues and many other issues to the Dewan in the next sitting.
“In the meantime, I urge the GPS State Government to do spring cleaning within their coalition parties for the good of the people of Sarawak. In this way, they would be able to convince the people of their convictions to serve the people of Sarawak. I also urge the people of Sarawak to continue speaking up as they are truly the boss of the government of the day, be it PH or GPS.”