GPS Backbenchers Club said that the state government has always exercised financial prudence and through this approach, has been able to maintain good financial ratings from notable credit rating agencies worldwide. — Bernama file photo
KUCHING (July 1): Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Backbenchers Club has refuted pro-Keadilan Sarawak chairman Iswardy Morni’s claims that the state government has run out of funds to the point that it is unable to assist the people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
It said that the state government has always exercised financial prudence and through this approach, has been able to maintain good financial ratings from notable credit rating agencies worldwide.
“This is reflected in its ability to roll out several assistances to the people through the Sarawakku Sayang Special Assistance (BKSS) which is worth more than RM4.5 billion divided over six iterations from BKSS 1.0 to 6.0.”
“In BKSS 6.0, the state government also provided allocations for BKSS food aid programme distributed to residents affected by the movement control order (MCO) in all 82 state constituencies worth RM35.5 million,” GPS Backbenchers Club said in a statement when responding to Iswardi’s recent allegations on Facebook.
It added that this was on top of the current expenditure to manage the spread of Covid-19 in the state which included quarantine, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab tests and procurement of the equipment needed by the medical frontliners.
“To say that the state government is penniless is untrue and is merely an accusation that is not backed by any facts and figures. The track record of the state government be it in terms of financial management as well as its initiative to lessen the burden of the people speaks for itself. This is evident in the last one year and a half when the pandemic reached our shores.”
The club said the elected representatives of the GPS state government has continued to be on the ground doling out assistances and relief to their constituents.
The club also asked Iswardy whether he has been on the ground and render his services to the people affected by the pandemic or whether he been too busy bickering on social media, making baseless accusations within the comforts of his home in Malaya and away from the reality and hardship of the locals in the state.
“Do not ridicule the efforts of those on the ground who have been trying to make the lives of the people better each day.”
“The constituents, the locals in Sarawak know who are on the ground and who isn’t. While the smear tactics may work for your gullible audiences in Malaya, it won’t work here,” it said.