Lee: Govt distributes MRP grants fairly

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MIRI: The Sarawak government tries to distribute Minor Rural Project (MRP) grants fairly to eligible associations and organisations despite more applications received.

According to Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin, the distribution of the grants needs to be fair for recipients to carry out activities and community programmes.

“We receive a lot of applications from associations and committees for the MRP grants every year for beneficial activities, programmes in the community,” he said yesterday at a ceremony to present MRP grants at SUPP Senadin office yesterday.

“The amount may not be enough to cover the cost of the whole programme but at least it can reduce the financial burden of the associations and organisations,” he said.

Lee who is also Senadin assemblyman added that some of the grants are given on the spot during the recipients’ programmes or activities.

“For example, for activities that involve schools, we will give the grants directly to show that the government supports their activities,” he said.

The Sarawak government, he said is always concerned about problems faced by the people, especially when it comes to request for funds, even though the amount given may be lower than what they had applied for.

“Therefore, recipients must prepare and submit a report on the activities or projects carried out using the given MRP grant to the government,” he stressed.

During the function, Lee presented cheques of MRP grant amounting to RM265,000 to 42 associations and organisations.

Lee (standing front, seventh left) with representatives of associations and organisations that received the MRP grants.