People have rights to development projects — Baru

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UNFAIR: Baru (second left) fields questions from the press. With him (from left) are Lejau, Miri MP Dr Michael Teo and state PKR vice-chairman See Chee How.

MIRI: Government department and agencies are urged to ensure equal distribution of development projects so that everybody can benefit from them.

State PKR chief, Baru Bian, said the government should ensure that everyone, irrespective of their race and political affiliations, benefit from all development projects “because it (govt) has the responsibility to develop all levels of society”.

Speaking at a press conference here yesterday, Baru said the political views of the people, whether they were pro or against the government, should never be made as an excuse to refuse them any government assistance.

He said this claiming that a government officer in Baram who refused to approve applications from several villagers in Long Mekaba wanting to participate in a rubber scheme just because they were PKR supporters.

According to their headman, Lejau Tusau, 76 of them had applied to participate in the rubber scheme in 2010.

“When we wanted to obtain the seedlings from the nursery, the officer-in-charge said he had been informed by a penghulu and a pemanca in the area that they were PKR supporters and therefore had no right to participate in the scheme,” he said.

The villagers said they were very disappointed with the officer concerned.

Baru meanwhile urged Lejau to write an official complaint to him for he has promised to raise the matter at the state assembly sitting in November.