KUCHING: State DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen is saddened by the way Batu Kawah Sports Association has requested funds from Batu Kawah assemblywoman Christina Chiew.
According to Chong, the association’s leaders when approaching Chiew for financial support to finance their activities for this year had demanded that Chiew give the funds by end of this year. The amount requested was RM55,000.
Chong said the association, being a non-governmental organisation (NGO), should not have approached her in such an “unfriendly manner”.
The Bandar Kuching MP claimed that the leaders of the association were all staunch supporters of SUPP, with one holding the position of a branch leader.
At the press conference was also Chiew, who said that she was approached by at least four leaders from the association at her service centre two days ago where the association submitted their request for the allocation.
Chong explained that the association should have asked the allocation from the former elected representative, Tan Joo Phoi, who was also a former assistant minister.
“The allocation for the NGOs should be from last year’s budget, and in this case Tan was still there (elected representative) when the budget was announced, so by right, the association should ask the allocation from Tan and not us,” Chong explained.
Meanwhile, Chong said the party would announce its alternative budget this Nov 11, which among others will allocate RM20 million to NGOs across the state next year.
He explained that the allocation for the NGOs would be determined by the guidelines to be set up.
He said the amount of allocation would be based on the nature of activities they organise, the number of participants and their impact on improving social development and welfare of the people.
“With the alternative budget for NGOs, the amount of allocation will be based on merit and not because the association is very close to the elected representatives,” Chong said.
This, he said, is unlike the way Barisan Nasional is allocating the funds now which is based on “you get more if you are close to the elected representative and get less if you are not”.