The Sarawak chief minister issued the warning to the elected representatives from the ruling party in a speech held at the National Transformation 2050 (TN50) dialogue at DeTAR Putra Hall of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) in Kota Samarahan yesterday, The Borneo Post reported today.
“Perform or you will be replaced,” he said referring to the RM5 million provided under the Rural Trasnformation Project (RTP) initiated by his predecessor, the late Adenan Satem.
As the RM5 million is provided by the state government directly, as a development fund to each state constituency under the BN, Abang Johari said there was no need to wait for the federal government any more.
“The RTP was implemented by Tok Nan (the late Adenan Satem) to develop our state. So, we don’t need to wait for Putrajaya anymore.
“RM5 million is allocated to each YB to carry out projects in the villages. If projects are still not done, the YBs will be replaced. We have given you the money, it is your fault if the projects are not done.
“RM5 million each year equals to RM25 million in five years. So perform and build the roads for our people. Focus on serving the people. If you want to be a businessman, quit politics,” Abang Johari was quoted as saying by the Sarawak-based daily, at the event which was also attended by Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
He also spoke up against elected representatives having interests outside of politics, sharing his experience as a committed politician.
“You cannot have dual (vested) interest. I’ve been in politics for 35 years and a YB since 1981 because I am sincere. When you’re in politics, your aim is to help the people,” The Borneo Post quoted him as saying.
At a press conference later, Abang Johari clarified that there was no room for complaints if those elected delivered as they are supposed to, for the good of the people.
“At the moment, our YBs boleh tahan (are doing quite well). But if they do not perform, we will have to change the candidates,” he said.
Further to the statement on the RM5 million allocation by the chief minister, the state BN Backbenchers Club chairman Abdullah Saidol clarified that the money is not paid out in cash.
“It is not that each YB is given RM5 million cash, but instead, it is in the form of the RTP fund.
“The assemblymen need to submit a list of projects with a ceiling amount of RM5 million. After submission, the projects would be implemented in the following year,” Abdullah was quoted as saying by the Borneo Post.
He added that not every project would be granted the same amount, depending on the nature and area of the project.
“The opposition makes criticisms such as why only the rural areas get 20 to 30 projects. You have to understand that projects in semi-urban or urban areas can cost more. But for minor projects in rural areas, it can be between RM50,000 and RM100,000 each.”
According to Abdullah, besides the RTP fund, BN MPs also had access to the Project Mesra Rakyat (PMR) fund worth about RM6 million. He said that BN MPs and assemblymen could also collaborate with one another to carry out projects for the community.
“All assembly persons will be monitored by a KPI (key performance indicator) system. Each has a scorecard, and that projects pledged have to be delivered,” he said, adding that the Sarawak Implementation Monitoring Unit (SIMU) was the agency keeping track of the scorecard.