Why so nervous about PKN, NGO chairperson asks Idris
KUCHING: Penggerak Komuniti Negara (PKN) Sarawak chairperson Nurhanim Mokshen is baffled as to why Muara Tuang assemblyman Dato Idris Buang is so “nervous” by the presence of the community-based nongovernmental organisation (NGO) in the state.
She said it was unnecessary for the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief to voice his displeasure over the setting-up of the NGO which has been around in Sarawak since last year.
“Why is Dato Idris Buang so ‘kan cheong’ (Cantonese for nervous) about PKN in Sarawak?
“As we have stated in our earlier statement, PKN is not a new NGO and has been carrying out community activities all over Sarawak since 2019 which have supported and benefitted many Sarawakians,” she said in a statement yesterday.
She pointed out that PKN was set up very much with the welfare needs of the community at heart and to complement efforts by the authorities in reaching out to communities with the necessary assistance in whatever form as and when needed.
“For example, when the whole nation was facing the crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Movement Control Order (MCO) was enforced, necessary food aid was arranged and distributed to the poorer sections of Sarawakians who faced problems of putting meals on the table.
“Close to 10,000 food ‘ bakul’ (baskets) were distributed to identified poor families,” she said.
Apart from that, Nurhanim said the NGO had also contributed to the ‘Back to School 2020’ programme benefitting around a few thousand families as well as other forms of assistance such as ‘Bantuan Asnaf’ for the poor.
“We have been here for some time and I don’t see any reason for Dato Idris Buang to be too ‘kan cheong’, and I also humbly seek his moral support.
“I also hope that the welfare of communities will not be politicised as it is the people’s interest which will be compromised,” she added.
Idris in a statement recently said the setting-up of PKN was “politically motivated” and likened the NGO to the Federal Village Community Management Council ( MPKKP) which had failed to take off after the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government.