SANDAKAN – Warisan leaders say they have not received any allocation from the Sabah government, despite promises that all constituencies, including those under the opposition, would receive funds.
Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal disputed Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s statement yesterday that RM188.2 million had been distributed among all state seats in Sabah.
“That is not true. We (Warisan assemblymen) did not get the allocation. Maybe they (the Sabah government) gave it to the constituencies but I don’t know through whom, but not us.
“There is confusion among the people, some think that our assemblymen have received a special allocation. But now I am here to say, we have not received any allocation,” Shafie told a press conference after the Sabah assembly sitting in Kota Kinabalu, today.
Earlier, Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking questioned the conflicting statements made by the Sabah government regarding the allocations, with one statement saying the RM188.2-million allocation covered all assemblymen including the opposition, while another statement said the funds were only for government lawmakers.
“There is no clear answer from the state government on this issue,” Leiking said in a statement today.
He also demanded more transparency on the funds for opposition seats that were given through district offices.
“The chief minister’s announcement that funds allocated for opposition assemblymen will be directed to district offices raises questions about the nature of these allocations and their intended utilisation.
“The government needs to provide clear and transparent information regarding the specifics of these allocations so that we may effectively inform the public.”
He said the public deserved to know how and what type of allocations could be utilised and how they could benefit from them.
He added that the government should provide clear guidelines for accessing these funds to avoid confusion and ensure equitable treatment of all Sabahans, regardless of political affiliation. – April 25, 2024