Baru chides Masing for latest reason to fly village chiefs to Putrajaya using military plane
KUCHING: The latest statement by Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing justifying the use of military plane to bring village chiefs to Putrajaya is turning this sorry saga into a comedy show, according to state PKR chairman Baru Bian.
Baru, who is Ba Kelalan assemblyman, said it is clear to anyone following the recent developments that Masing has gone into damage control mode after heavy criticism on social media, but unfortunately his ‘ sound reasoning’ of payback for fighting the communists many years ago is just plain absurd.
“In the earlier reports, the DCM was noted to have said: ‘It was because I could not afford using commercial flights. We are talking about 180 people’. The purpose of the visit was said to have been as a show of support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s leadership. Nothing was said about payback for fighting the communists.
“If the DCM is really serious about rewarding the village chiefs for their services rendered, flying them in a military jet not made for comfort or with amenities, and taking a longer time than a commercial plane, is not the right way.
“Surely they deserve to fly business class on a comfortable plane. It is the least the DCM could have done for them, after all the sacrifices they made. Did he make the ‘ultimate sacrifice’ and travel with the village chiefs in the military plane or did he fly in comfort on a commercial plane?” he said in a press statement yesterday.
Baru questioned if Masing was really serious about rewarding those who fought the communists and why the latter was selective and only rewarded those from Song, Kapit and Belaga.
“What about those who live in other areas? I know a few exSarawak Rangers in Long Semadoh who fought the communists. Why are they not similarly ‘rewarded’?”
He said if Masing was really serious about rewarding those who fought the communists the latter should fight for their pensions to be raised.
“That would be fair to all exservicemen, and certainly that would be more useful to them. It is no secret that the ex-servicemen have been calling for their pensions to be raised as they cannot make ends meet on what they are receiving now.”
As for Masing asking Baru to make up his mind whether he was accusing him of abusing the dignity of the village chiefs by taking them on the military plane or abusing his power by using the military aircraft, Baru said the answer was both.
“These two propositions are not mutually exclusive, and there is no contradiction in them, so I am saying he has done both.”
Baru said Masing’s admission that he could not afford to fly them commercially and therefore used the military aircraft was a blatant abuse of power by using government assets for political activities.
“Not only was that an abuse of power, it was also a misuse of military assets, as this was not an emergency situation that required the use of the military aircraft. The question is, who initiated this visit. If it was James Masing, he should have paid for them to travel in comfort.
“If it was Najib Razak, he should have paid for them to travel in style and comfort. Najib could have come to see them himself; why the need to bring them in such an undignified manner. I reiterate that it was appallingly disrespectful for the DCM or the PM to be so stingy and fly them in a plane not designed for commercial use.
“The irresistible conclusion in this farce is that the DCM is playing politics and is now just attempting to limit the damage by giving his post-event justification. Talk about grasping for straws,” he added.