Many longhouse chiefs still fear joining federal departments’ programmes, says Leon
KUCHING: Many longhouse chiefs (tuai rumah) are still hesitant to join programmes organised by federal departments and agencies even though it has been nearly a year since Pakatan Harapan (PH) formed the federal government.
Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sri Aman chief Leon Jimat Donald said this happened due to fearmongering by politicians from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) just because PH and GPS are on different sides of the political fence.
As such, he called on the longhouse folks not to be easily taken for a ride by such tactic of GPS but have the courage to approach departments and agencies for programmes and assistance schemes for the benefit of their families and communities.
“After nearly a year the Pakatan Harapan has become the federal government, I still find Tuai Rumahs who remain fearful in asking for programmes from federal agencies. The fearmongering is very real, no matter how many times GPS denies it,” said Leon.
Leon, who is also DAP Sarawak exco member, was in Rh Kunjang Kusing, Entawa Asal to hand over RM2,000-grant from Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen for repair of the longhouse.
He commended the longhouse folks of Entawa Asal, particularly their Tuai Rumah Kunjang Kusing, for not succumbing to the fear mongering by GPS politicians as they had approached PH federal government for assistance.
On another matter, Leon called on PH Sarawak to disseminate the policies of the PH federal government more effectively to the people of Sarawak especially those in the interior.
Also present during the simple handing- over ceremony at Rh Kunjang Kusing was PKR Sri Aman youth chief Lawrence Temba.