KUCHING (June 7): The Sarawak government should play a more responsible role to help the people and not just by foregoing a small pay cut for ministers and lawmakers which can do little to overcome the suffering of the people, Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) Central Women said.
It said in a statement that the recent announcement by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg that the State Cabinet will be donating their two months’ salaries to the Sarawak Disaster Fund was simply to distract Sarawakians from the worsening Covid-19 situation in the state.
“The Chief Minister’s Office also mentioned that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state assemblymen and political secretaries will also contribute their allowances for two months for the same purpose.
“Such gimmicks are expected of the failed GPS Kingmakers and State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) to distract Sarawakians from the real issues of rising Covid-19 positive cases and the low vaccination rate largely due to poor planning which resulted in the inadequate supply of the vaccines to accelerate the Vaccination programme,” it said.
It reminded Abang Johari and his GPS counterparts not to get distracted by trying to flaunt their skills at one-upmanship on such petty issues and drama just to give Sarawakians this momentary ‘feel good’ factor.
“In fact the Opposition state elected representatives have been doing so much more as they are not entitled to minor rural project (MRP) and Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) funds but have been sacrificing for their constituencies for an even longer time.
“Nonetheless, this is not the time to throw challenges at each other for political mileage while the rakyat continue to face uncertainty in their daily lives, without the comfort of being vaccinated while needing to make ends meet,” it said.
It pointed out that this was the time for Abang Johari to leverage on “his much-touted ‘Kingmaker’ relationship with the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, which without Sarawak’s GPS support, would not have survived.
“Sarawak should dictate the Vaccination Programme, not (National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister) Khairy Jamaluddin or Putrajaya as our SDMC had pledged to complete the vaccination of at least 80 per cent of all eligible Sarawakians by August, five months ahead of the national vaccination targeted deadline.
“Is SDMC biting more than it can chew? Will the blame be shifted to Khairy and Putrajaya should the State Government fall short of meeting its targeted deadline of vaccinating 70% of eligible Sarawakians by August 2021?” it questioned.
The PSB Women said it is also not the time to play the ‘one country two systems’ by trying to be more ‘Sarawakian’ while failing to contain the spread of infections by deploying half measures and confusing the ordinary people in the process.
“The proof of the pie is in the eating – Sarawakians want to see the vaccines and they want them to be made available to all eligible Sarawakians who deserve nothing less. Their lives matter. PSB Women stand with them on this,” it said.
It said it strongly supported the call by party president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh that Sarawakians crucially needed social and economic support as this would have a direct and immediate impact on the lives and livelihood of all those most affected by the worsening pandemic.
“Among others, our president had said that, if PSB were the government, he will review the mega projects costing billions of ringgit such as the hydrogen bus, autonomous rail transit (ART) and second trunk road which are non-productive and will not bring about immediate benefits to the people during this pandemic.
“Our president also said that a PSB government would immediately put on hold such projects and use those funds for the people, to save the small and medium enterprises from collapse and protect the employment and livelihood of our fellow Sarawakians. PSB Women believes this can be done and should be done,” it said.
It also fully supported by the call by Wong to Abang Johari and the GPS government to review these projects which is viewed as a waste of state funds better used for the welfare of the people.
“The money should be channelled to save lives and businesses during this crisis and if the savings from the mega projects are not sufficient, the government should figure out how much of the state’s reserve fund could be utilised to help Sarawakians during these trying times.
“The reserve fund is meant for Sarawak and Sarawakians during rainy days and Covid-19 is not just rain but a massive storm. PSB Women believe that we should not pray for lighter rain, rather, we should pray for a better umbrella.
“As such, this health crisis should call for the need to dig into the state’s reserve fund so that Sarawakians can survive the storm,” it said.
It reiterated Wong’s belief that it is equally pertinent for the government to come up with measures to help businesses stay afloat so that the economy would bounce back after the pandemic is over.
“We call on the chief minister and the GPS Government to act real and roll up their sleeves to serve fellow Sarawakians as patriots, not parrots.
“No more gimmicks and political stunts, please,” it said.
from Borneo Post Online https://bit.ly/3fZL8jA
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