KUCHING – The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Backbenchers Club has criticised Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen for questioning whether the state government is withholding Covid-19 aid until closer to the state election.
It said Chong’s statement was aimed at scoring cheap publicity, as the state government has been actively assisting people affected by Covid-19 and has rolled out various types of assistance to cater to different groups through Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang, which is worth over RM3.2 billion.
It also rubbished Chong’s claim that the Sarawak government was not assisting small businesses in the state.
“Policies made in terms of imposing movement restrictions have taken into account the hardships faced by the people, especially the small businesses, private sector workers, the self-employed, and those without fixed income – allowing them to recover from the first movement control order (MCO) last year.
“This is further supported by the decision not to impose an MCO in Sarawak, instead continuing with the existing conditional MCO,” it said in a statement today.
Yesterday, Chong, in a statement, questioned whether the state government is withholding funds and waiting to dish them out before the state election.
Meanwhile, Tupong rep Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman in a separate statement said GPS has continued to serve the people, be they public servants, private-sector workers, small businesses, or the public in general, at all times.
“This has been the practice throughout (GPS’) five-year term of being elected as state government, and it will continue in the future.
“GPS does not subscribe to the notion of only showing up during election season to champion the welfare of the people. This, to us, is not a seasonal thing as the people need to be assisted at all times,” he added. – Bernama, May 15, 2021
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