Julaihi (bottom left) and Baru (bottom right) are seen in a television grab arguing during the DUN Sitting.
KUCHING: Sarawak elected MPs have been urged to not be afraid of their bosses at the federal level.
Assistant Minister of Infrastructure and Ports Development Datuk Julaihi Narawi said these MPs should strive harder to obtain more allocation from the federal government for projects in Sarawak.
“Don’t be afraid of your bosses in the federal government because Sarawak needs more allocation to implement roads and various infrastructure projects,” he said during a question-and-answer session at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting today.
This led Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian to called Julaihi out for his statement, while describing it as “improper motive.”
Julaihi, however, cited three bridge projects which were approved by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government before Pakatan Harapan (PH) took over as the ruling administration and said that these projects were based on the needs of rural folks in the area.
He stressed that Baru, as the Work Minister and Selangau MP, should defend the needs of the people.
“Don’t worry about pressure from the federal government. I bear no malice with what I said earlier.
“What I meant was to fight for the needs and allocation which has been approved for the people in Sarawak. This is important,” he said.
Baru then clarified that there is no issue of “takut dengan boss” (being afraid of your boss) and that the PH government was “a responsible government”.
“Not all your projects that have been approved by your predecessor would be implemented because the conduct and practice of the former BN of which you were part of, kept approving when there’s no money.
“We look at the condition of the financial position which was a result of the action from the previous government.
“We are a responsible government and will execute projects within the capability of the government,” he emphasised.
However, Julaihi did not accept his reasoning and pointed out that if there were insufficient allocations, why were projects being approved for Peninsular Malaysia.
“All Sarawakians know how much approved allocations were announced for big projects in Peninsular Malaysia while projects in Sarawak are halted.
“This seems to be an effort to make Sarawak as the step-child. That is why I’m asking to please fight for funds for Sarawak.”