Sanjan showing the letter from Kuching District Office that called the community leaders to a discussion while Edward (left) and Leon (centre) look on.
KUCHING: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government is urged to be rational in their decision and allow the people, especially those in the rural areas, to accept grants given out by the federal government.
Sanjan Daik, political secretary to Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen, said he was puzzled when a village chief returned the federal government grant that was given to their village security and development committee (JKKK) by Chong recently.
According to him, the JKKK of the village, which is within the state constituency of Mambong, had applied for minor rural project (MRP) grant to Chong to fund the construction of a small wooden bridge across a stream in the village on Sept 30.
He said on Oct 28, a cheque of RM3,000 was issued and handed to the representative of the JKKK during a simple ceremony at the site of the proposed project.
“The article on the JKKK receiving grant from the federal government was published in The Borneo Post newspaper on Oct 30.
“Pursuant to the said news, Kuching District Office had called for a meeting with the community leaders and three Ketua Kaum (village chief) who had received the federal grants from Chong,” he told a press conference at the Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) headquarters here yesterday.
Sanjan alleged that on the day the grant was returned through him, the Ketua Kaum told him that the Kuching District Office had instructed them to return the grant which they had received.
He said as the cheque had been banked-in and cleared, the Ketua Kaum had to return the grant to him in cash, which was withdrawn from the JKKK’s bank account.
“I am puzzled with this kind of act because the grant is from the federal government — the taxpayers’ money — meant for the people’s use but the state government through the District Office had instructed the JKKK to reject or return the grant.
“Isn‘t it good for the people to receive grants from both the federal and state governments so that more development can be brought to the people?” he asked.
According to Sanjan, the villagers were not happy with the JKKK returning the grant.
He said the villagers, through their Pertubuhan Penduduk Kampung, are now applying for the grant to be diverted to their organisation to enable them to carry out their activities for the benefit of the villagers.
“The GPS government should not stop any JKKK, especially those in the rural area, from receiving grant from the federal government given they are still very much lagging behind in terms of basic facilities and development,” he said.
Sri Aman DAP chairman Leon Jimat Donald and Serian DAP chairman Edward Luak were present at the press conference.