Unfair to expect me to help everyone — Dr Teo
MIRI: Miri MP Dr Teo Yu Kheng yesterday said it is unfair to expect him to help everyone as he is not a government representative but merely a member of parliament.
He was commenting on the news in The Borneo Post and its sister paper See Hua Daily News that a group of Tudan folks were unhappy with him for not providing for them and looking into their welfare.
“I alone cannot help everyone. Furthermore there are also other YBs from DAP ( Democratic Action Party) and BN ( Barisan Nasional) who can help the people,” he said.
He added that as he is not representing the government, he can only offer limited help as unlike government representatives, he does not have Minor Rural Project ( MRP) funds to offer to the people.
Dr Teo also suggested that the people who are in need seek help from related government agencies and the BN or DAP assemblymen who are earning higher salary compared to MPs.
According to him, the case in Tudan is due to a recent death in the area where the relatives of the deceased had requested him to donate RM1,800 for a coffin and RM2,200 for burial expenses.
Dr Teo felt the cost requested was too high and he could not afford it with his MP salary which is just about RM10,000 including allowances.
Meanwhile, Dr Teo’s personal assistant Bill Kayong said Parti Keadilan Rakyat was in fact the first party to visit the family after they learnt about the death.
“I went there in the afternoon and the deceased’s family requested for the said donation. But I told them the cost is too high for Dr Teo and if everyone is to make similar requests from the MP, it would definitely be a problem,” he said.
He added that Dr Teo also came to visit the deceased’s family that very night and when they arrived, the coffin was already bought.
He also showed a photo of Dr Teo at the deceased’s house as evidence that he visited the people.