Tiong shocked by Masing’s suggestion

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Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing

KUCHING: Progressive Democratic Party ( PDP) president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing is shocked and dismayed by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Masing’s call for the Sarawak government to spend all its reserves before the next state election.

Joining the chorus of condemnation over the suggestion, Tiong said it is inconceivable that a politician of Masing’s standing and experience thinks that Sarawak’s reserves belong to the ruling government.

“Surely he should know that the reserves belong to the state and the people, not the government of the day.”

Tiong added that it was very selfish of Masing to think of finishing the reserves without thinking of the Sarawak’s financial standing in the future.

“After all of us have left the political arena, Sarawak government still has function.

“It is our sacred duty to make sure we secure a stable and bright future for those who come after us.”

He added that he is very sure Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg will not heed Masing’s advice as he has set his own development agenda for Sarawak.

“I am sure the chief minister will utilise the reserves wisely for the people and the state.

“Aside from that it is really disheartening that Masing already thinks that the present Sarawak government would lose the next state election three years before it has to be called,” Tiong said in a statement yesterday.

He added that Masing thinks that the only way to win the next election is to spend the RM31 billion to win the hearts of the people.

“Masing should learn a lesson from the defeat of Barisan Nasional (BN) in the last general election.

“BN spent billions in handouts, implementation of projects and propaganda and yet lost the election.”

Tiong pointed out that voters nowadays are matured and elections could no longer be won by money politics.

“What they want are politicians who go to the ground to listen to their problems and need and speak up for them.

“Sincere service is the key to winning the hearts of the people not just dispensing of grants and handouts.”

He added that now there is no place for elected representatives who keep quiet about their constituents’ problems and grouses in the State Legislative Assembly.

“The days of ‘yes men’ in the Dewan are over. We do need assemblymen who only perform opening ceremonies or announce grants.

“Go down to the ground and get the real picture of any situation instead of just relying on reports from District offices or community leaders.”

Tiong ,who is also the Bintulu MP, who is known for travelling by roads and rivers to visit his constituency said ministers should not visit the remote areas of their constituencies by helicopter all the time.

“They should travel by road and see for themselves the conditions of rural roads and the hardship of the people in the longhouses and villages.

“With the roads left unrepaired they often could not travel to towns to look for jobs or sell their produce.”

However, Tiong pointed out that it is not wrong to utilise the some of the reserves for urgent development projects provided the government does not deplete the fund without replenishing it later.

“The government should revise its financial planning and allocate some fund from the reserves for urgent road and utilities repair and disaster relief.

“From my experience when we asked for funds to repair rural roads damaged by floods we were often told by JKR there was no money set aside for that purpose. There was even no money to supply gravel to cover up potholes,” Tiong said.