Don’t play politics, CM told

Abdul Rahman: Be wary of statement over funds for Chinese new villages

PENANG Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng should not play politics over development funds for Chinese new villages, said Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

“My advice to Lim is to be wary of his statement on the issue as he is insinuating that the Chinese in new villages are being punished for not giving their vote to the Government.

“The allegations are baseless and should not come from a Chief Minister,” he said at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

He denied Lim’s claims that there was a reduction in the development allocation for the Chinese new villages and clarified that 95% of the RM55milfor the purpose had already been disbursed.

“There is no reduction and we are hopeful that the remaining allocation will be disbursed by the end of the year,” he said.

He said such inaccurate and provocative statements were uncalled for by a state leader.

Abdul Rahman said both MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and MCA Young Professionals Bureau chief Datuk Chua Tee Yong had raised the matter with him.

He said the remaining allocation for the Chinese new villages would be channelled through the ministry’s village development officer.

“The ministry has decided to use the previous method of involving a village development officer until we decide on a more suitable manner,” he said.

Besides considering proposals for the allocation to be channelled via the respective district offices, he said other suggestions would also be considered.

Abdul Rahman said he was hopeful that the issue would be resolved by the end of the year.