Kuching: Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Tan Kai should apologise following the council’s refusal to utilise a Federal Allocation of RM114,448.00 intended to upgrade the football field in Kampung Bumbok, said Stampin MP, Chong Chieng Jen.
Chong said the allocation was approved by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) in March 2025, following an application by the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) of Kampung Bumbok, with his support.
“MPP was appointed as the implementation agency for the project. It is shocking to learn that, despite the federal government having allocated the funds, MPP refused to carry out the project for which the federal funds have been allocated.
“The excuse given by Tan Kai that there was no detailed plan is the most flimsy of all excuses,” he said in a statement.
He said that all federal allocations are channelled to implementation agencies for specific purposes.
“In this case, it was to upgrade the football field. It is therefore the duty of the implementation agency to carry out the work. If there is no detailed plan, as alleged by Tan Kai, it is incumbent upon MPP to either request the detailed plan or develop it and work within the budget. Has MPP done either?” Chong questioned.
He added that outright refusal to implement the project and to reject the federal allocation would be the most irresponsible course for the MPP.
“For the MPP’s irresponsible act, the people of Kampung Bumbok and the students at SK St David Bumbok were deprived of the use of an upgraded football field this year.
“They were forced to wait another year for the Jabatan Belia dan Sukan Sarawak to be appointed the implementation agency, and there is also the uncertainty whether the allocation will still be available for the project, given that the allocation was rejected by MPP this year,” he said.
Chong called on Tan Kai to apologise to the people of Kampung Bumbok and the students of SK St David Bumbok for MPP’s irresponsible act.
