KUCHING: State DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen yesterday rebuked Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh for saying that the Chinese community lost a lot in government allocations after they voted for the opposition in the previous elections.
“It is very regrettable that in this 21st century, the SUPP leader’s mindset remains the same as 30 years ago, that is using allocations to hoodwink votes from the Chinese community and people,” the Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman told a press conference here yesterday.
He said if not because of the strong showing by the opposition in the 2008 and 2013 general elections, the government would not be handing out 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) to the people.
“That was paid out after the 2008 general election, after Lim Guan Eng gave RM100 to all senior citizens in Penang. BR1M would not have been implemented had it not been the strong showings of the opposition in 2008 and 2013 general elections.”
Chong said although the money handed out would not solve the economic woes and plight of the people, nevertheless it is a direct payment to the poorer sector of the community.
“It is also because of strong showings of the opposition in Sarawak, our land rights have been protected, that the expired and expiring land leases were allowed to be renewed.
“Also in Bako area, about 3,000 acres of land were subjected to Section 47 and the owners’ expired and expiring land leases were not allowed to be renewed. Because of strong support for the opposition, these problems were solved, the land leases were renewed.”
He pointed out that previously, the land renewal premiums were based on the market value of the houses or land, adding that for a terraced and semi-detached houses, the renewal premium would easily be tens of thousands of ringgit and hundred thousands of ringgit respectively.
“But now because of strong opposition, the land renewal premium was reduced to RM1,000 for terraced houses and RM3,000 for semi-detached houses per renewal. All these are the benefits that a strong opposition has given to the people which had forced the government to listen to the people and do the people’s biddings.”