DAP man says ‘baffled’ by MPP chairman’s RM1.5 mln funding for council remarks

A Democratic Action Party (DAP) member has taken Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Tan Kai to task over the la er’s recent statement that the council had only secured RM1.5 million from the state government for development purposes.

Michael Kong, who is a special assistant to Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen, said he was ‘baffled’ at MPP’s claim of financial constraints when it plans to spend RM60 million for the construction of its new office building.

“This misguided endeavour reflects a case of misplaced priority rather than a genuine shortage of funds.

“As MPP chairman, Tan Kai holds significant power and authority to enact significant change and rectify this misallocation of resource. It is incumbent upon him to prioritise urgent infrastructure works,” Kong said in a statement yesterday.

He argued that the RM60 million earmarked for the new MPP building ought to be redirected to address the urgent needs of Kuching’s back lanes and drains.

“If this still proves insufficient, Tan should seek additional funding from the three Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) assemblymen representing Kota Sentosa, Batu Kitang and Batu Kawah,” he said.

Kota Sentosa is represented by Wilfred Yap, Batu Kitang by Datuk Lo Khere Chiang, and Batu Kawah by Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian who is a deputy premier and also Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister.

Kong said with a collective annual allocation of approximately RM25 million from Dr Sim, Yap and Lo, there are ample resources available to bolster basic infrastructure in Kuching.

“In contrast, Chong was allocated RM4.2 million for the development of the same three state constituencies. Out of this, RM3,019,700 or 72.3 per cent was spent on education initiatives in 2023,” he said.