Abg Johari to consider giving MRP fund to Sarawak PH reps, says King Wei

KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is considering giving the same amount of funds that the Pakatan Harapan ( PH) federal government has announced for MPs from Barisan Nasional ( BN) and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

This was revealed by Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei, who is national Democratic Action Party (DAP) Socialist Youth deputy chief, following a courtesy call on Abang Johari yesterday.

According to Wong, opposition members of the august House did not put forward any amount to the chief minister during the meeting.

“We did not request any amount but the chief minister asked about the amount given by PH to opposition MPs, and the CM said he would consider,” he said when contacted after the meeting with Abang Johari at the latter’s office in the State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) here.

The eight-member PH Sarawak delegation was led by DAP Sarawak deputy chairman and Tanjong Batu assemblyman Chiew Chiu Sing.

Therestwere Krianassemblyman Ali Biju, Pelawan assemblyman David Wong, Pujut assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon, Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong, Bukit Assek assemblywoman Irene Chang and Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How.

Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah was also present at the meeting. King Wei went on to say that they did enlighten the chief minister on the amount of different funds to be given to MPs from BN and GPS. He said the PH federal government would give minor rural project ( MRP) fund worth RM100,000 to each opposition MP and another RM200,000 for their service centres.

It is understood that the Penang government has been giving MRP fund valued at RM40,000 to each opposition elected representative since 2014, and hiked the amount to RM60,000 in May.

In Johor, the PH state government is giving RM50,000 to each elected representative from both the ruling and opposition parties to man their respective service centres.

Selangor has been allocating RM200,000 worth of MRP fund to its opposition elected representatives since 2015. Abang Johari will announce the MRP fund for opposition elected representatives in Sarawak during his windingup speech, which is expected next Wednesday (July 18).