KUCHING: Opposition lawmakers have been reminded not to politicise aid given by the government to soften the impact of the movement control order (MCO) on needy people.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Jemut Masing said Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee spoke the truth about funds allocated to him.
The RM200,000 given to each of the 82 state legislators was channelled to the respective divisional disaster management committees.
“The money was not banked into the accounts of service centres of the assemblymen,” he told New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.
He said each state lawmaker, regardless of political affiliation, was asked to assist people affected by the MCO.
“I hope the Democratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) would help the divisional disaster management committees to distribute food to all families in their constituencies.
“If you are not in a position to come up with the money, the least that you can do is identify the families in your areas who are in need of our assistance,” he said.
He said now is not the right time to play politics or politicise Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s efforts to assist the people who are in need.
“Why did the opposition refuse to assist Dr Annuar (to meet at Sibu Resident’s Office to clear the air)? That, I don’t know.
“But it showed that they are not interested in helping needy people if they can’t score political points,” he said.
Masing, who is also Baleh assemblyman, said he wished the opposition members would forget politics for once and help the people during this trying time.
