Press Statement By Michael Kong:
Over the last couple of weeks, DAP has consistently received enquiries regarding Bantuan Khas Sarawakku Sayang (BKSS) payments which was promised to the people by the Sarawak State Government. BKSS was supposed to be an initiative by the Sarawak State Government to ease the burden of the lower-income groups. While the intentions of the Sarawak government are commendable, sadly we cannot label their efforts and execution in the same way.
Till today, many applicants are still complaining that their application is still pending processing by the relevant authorities. For those who had already been approved, they have not been receiving their financial assistance of RM250 per month lately. When the livelihood and survival of people are at stake, the government ought to take the matter more seriously and with urgency.
Even the frontliners who have been tirelessly working during this Covid-19 pandemic were not spared by this half-hearted implementation of the program by the Sarawak State Government. Many have not been receiving the RM300 monthly assistance which was promised by Abang Johari.
DAP urges the Sarawak State Government to treat this with utmost importance. Steps should be taken to expedite the process and release the payments soonest possible. It may not be much to many of these ministers, but most of these families will have to rely on these payments for survival.
GPS has been bragging that they have a lot of cash reserves and recently gloated at the RM2.9billion payment by Petronas. With all this cash, the Sarawak State Government has run out of excuses for the delay. This is pure incompetence and cannot be accepted by the public.
Michael Kong Feng Nian
Special Assistant to YB Chong Chieng Jen
