GOVERNMENT GRANT: Masing (second left) handing over the grant to one of the 79 recipients.
KAPIT: If the people of Kapit do not support the BN government, not a single sen would come their way in future.
That is the message Minister of Land Development Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing gave when he handed out minor rural project (MRP) grants to 79 longhouse JKKK (village security and development committee), parent-teacher association (PTA) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from Baleh at Bletih State Complex yesterday.
He told those present that they only have to look at what was happening in Pelagus to know what could happen to other areas should they chuck the BN aside in favour of opposition or independent candidates.
Masing, who is also Baleh assemblyman and PRS president, said the people should not have sidelined PRS’ candidate Stanley Nyitar during the 10th state election last year and voted for independent George Lagong in Pelagus who had thus far failed to deliver his election promises.
In handing out the RM502,000 MRP grants to the 79 recipients, Masing said: “This money is from the government for the people of N56 Baleh because you have supported the BN. If you don’t support the BN candidate in the coming general election, there wouldn’t be money coming in.
“The people of Baleh have made the wise choice in supporting BN candidates during state and parliamentary elections. That’s why you untung (benefit) because myself and P216 Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Billy Abit Joo have money from the government for you.”
Masing said many people from Pelagus had complained to him for not getting any government grant lately.
“As a minister, I try to help, but I really pity them because they made the wrong choice in the last state election. The independent wakil rakyat (Lagong) couldn’t get the government funds and so all his election promises were not fulfilled.
“On the other hand, people of Baleh received government money from myself and Billy every year.”
Masing added that during the current dry season, many Kapit folks were suffering for not having water supply.
“The (former) ‘wakil rakyat’ in Pelagus was there for 10 years, but he didn’t do anything to solve the water woe. The water shortage problem has persisted for a long time.
“We know that the town is expanding as people keep coming in. We all know who he is. The ‘wakil rakyat’ should have planned a long time ago, but he did nothing. So, we are suffering now.
“During the last state election, when the Minister of Regional and Rural Development Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal came to Kapit, only then he announced the new water plant project. I tell you, if you make a wrong choice by not voting for BN candidate then the people suffers.”
Although Masing did not name names, it was obvious he was referring to Larry Sng who was Pelagus assemblyman from 2001 to 2011. He was dropped by the BN in the 2011 state election as he was partyless after being sacked from PRS. Sng is currently president of the recently-formed Sarawak Workers Party (SWP).
Masing said he was confident that after polling for the 13th general election, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would continue to lead the country.
“So, don’t be hoodwinked by the opposition.”
Meanwhile, one of the recipients, Tuai Rumah Engsong Sigeh from Batu Babi, Sungai Kain, Baleh, said he was happy to receive the government grant.
“Something is better than nothing. We need the MRP fund badly because we need to carry out minor repair and improvement works in my 17-bilik longhouse.”