KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Information chief Datuk Idris Buang has hit back at Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen over his criticism of the 10 percent salary contribution of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) assemblymen to the State Disaster Fund.
Following the announcement on the contribution last Friday, Chong described it as a ‘political gimmick’, adding that all DAP assemblymen and MPs would set aside 20 percent of their salaries for three months for specific aid targeted at those in need.
“He is politicising the issue,” Idris countered in a statement today.
He said Chong’s assertion depicted the DAP representatives’ mentality, adding that they always tried to ‘outshine’ what the GPS government did.
“(In) this one issue, he is clearly showing that and for some good political reason. To (him), it is a political game.
“When they were in power for a while as the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, they showed their haughtiness and miserly true selves by giving a meagre pittance of RM30 annual personal grant for the B40 group (equivalent to approximately eight sen per day), which is too small — barely sufficient to buy a piece of chewing gum. That is how they rate us and our B40,” Idris said.
“Now they play up and sensationalise the giving of 10 percent by GPS state assemblymen and shout out loud that they can do better. Are they really sincere?
The rakyat can judge better,” added the Muara Tuang assemblyman.
Idris said the 10 percent rate was the state government’s suggestion and GPS state assemblymen and MPs could individually decide on providing more as they liked.
“But one thing is for sure, these GPS representatives are constantly and consistently on the ground providing various forms of assistance and personal touch on the needs of the rakyat 24/7,” he emphasised.
