KUCHING: Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) Deputy Minister Chong Chieng Jen’s remarks on Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) are described as “fake news”.
Its chairman Lo Khere Chiang said this in a statement issued out yesterday.
He stated, “The truth is that no official letter has been received by MPP from the ministry pertaining to the renting of mobile toilets.
“The council only received an official letter from Mantap Events Sdn Bhd dated Oct 14, claiming that they are the agent for the ministry to request for the renting of 10 units of 660L mobile garbage bins (MGBs) for the event ‘Buy Malaysian Products Campaign Carnival’.
“Nevertheless, the council has approved their request on the rental of mobile garbage bins.”
However, Lo further noted that the allegation that the council refused to cooperate during the event and refused to provide mobile toilets is baseless and untrue.
“MPP only has 10 units of mobile toilets and all have been fully-booked for the Spartan Race event, Karnival Jalinan Tani by Agriculture Institute Semenggoh and Borneo Highland Nature Challenge on Oct 19 to 20.
“It is therefore true to say that there were no more mobile toilets available from MPP for that particular occasion,” he said.
He further added, “It is mischievous, most unfair and grossly incorrect for Chong to say that MPP refused to rent the mobile toilets and did not extend MPP’s cooperation.”
On Oct 27 in Miri, Chong expressed his disappointment with the Sarawak government for allegedly refusing to cooperate in the implementation of initiatives undertaken by the federal government for the people of Sarawak.
He noted that the latest incident of the GPS-led state government refusing to extend its cooperation happened during the launch of the ‘Buy Malaysian Products Campaign Carnival’ in Kuching recently.
“We were trying to rent mobile toilets from MPP because the event was held in their jurisdiction but we were told none was available,” he said at the 19th Sarawak DAP state annual convention in Miri.
Chong noted they then tried to get help from the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) and Kuching North City Hall (DBKU), but unfortunately received the same response from both.
“It was a federal government programme and not organised by DAP, but the three local councils rejected our request for mobile toilets,” said Chong.
