Elopura rep uses own salary to help needy
SANDAKAN: Elopura assemblyman Calvin Chong Ket Kiun said he has used his own salary to add to the allocation from the State Government for distribution of essential food assistance to families in need here.
Chong said there had been a misunderstanding that people were expecting food assistance that was worth RM100, but the N45 Elopura had to reduce the value of the assistance per pack so that more families would receive the aid.
“If we get RM100,000 to distribute RM100 worth of essential food items, then the assistance would only go to 1,000 families. Hence, we had a discussion among the team members and have decided to reduce the value of each assistance bag in order to reach our target of about 4,500 families to receive assistance.
“In order to meet this target, I have also donated my one-month salary so that more people would receive this assistance,” he said.
Chong said the Elopura constituency consists of over 35 residential areas and villages.
“If we follow the original proposal, which are only 1,000 families to receive this assistance, then only about 30 families from each residential area would receive the aid. In order to be fair to all, the amount of goods in the assistance bag is reduced,” he said.
Chong said that people should be appreciative and grateful for the State Government’s effort in helping the people. Many assemblymen have to use their own money to provide the assistance that is passed through the Community Development Leader Unit so that more people would receive it.