Disabled farmer’s case takes centrestage again

Yet another Parti Rakyat Sarawak MP thinks it was alright to revoke government aid to disabled farmer Frusis Lebi.

KUCHING:  The case of Frusis Lebi, the handicapped Sarawakian farmer from Sri Aman who was denied government aid by Assistant Minister of Agriculture (Research and Marketing) Mong Dagang because of his support for the opposition, took a centre stage in parliament yesterday.

Debating the royal address, Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chien Jen said: “I wish to draw the attention of the Barisan Nasional government to the cruel act committed by an Assistant Minister towards Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) Frusis Lebi.

“Allow me to read the letter written by the assistant minister to the assistant director of agriculture in Sri Aman giving instruction that subsidies to Frusis should be stopped as he was a strong supporter of opposition,” said Chong, adding that Dagang had also written a similar letter to the head of the Welfare Department to stop welfare allowance to Frusis.

Chong however was interupted by Masir Kujat, the MP for Sri Aman who stood up to defend Dagang, his colleague from Parti Rakyat Sarawak.

Kujat said Lebi had been receiving welfare assistance since 1982.

“The BN had been helping him for more than 30 years. Now he had earned more than RM2,000 a month, so the welfare assistance had to be stopped,” said Kujat.

While the MPs from the Barisan Nasional applauded the move, the MPs from the opposition said that it was a shameful thing to do.

In reply, Chong said Kujat did not appear to understand the concept of parliamentary democracy, pointing out that the money did not belong to the Barisan Nasional nor did it belong to the MP’s father.

“The money is the people’s money,” he said, advising him (Sri Aman MP) to follow the Prime Minister’s 1Malaysia concept – people first performance now.

“Instead Mong (Dagang) and James Masing, a senior minister from PRS, who came to his defence had not only shown their arrogance, but had regarded the people last and Barisan Nasional first,” said Chong who is also Sarawak DAP secretary.

Sensible BN rep

One Sarawakian BN MP however was honest enough to admit that Dagang’s action were wrong.

MP for Kapit Alex Nanta Linggi said it was a mistake for Dagang to withdraw welfare allowance and subsidies.

“It was an isolated case, but the MP for Bandar Kuching should not blame the Prime Minister and it has nothing to do with the 1Malaysia concept,” said Nanta.

Continuing his debate, Chong said: “Let the people know that the Barisan Nasional elected representatives are the ‘towkay’ (or bosses), while the people are the servants. They must follow the leaders.

“Is that the policy of Barisan Nasional?” Chong asked alluding to Senior Minister and PRS president Masing’s defence of Dagang’s action. Masing had reportedly advised voters to ‘jangan lawan towkay’

Nanta again stood up for the second time and said that was only one case and it appeared that the MP for Bandar Kuching had made a big issue out of it.

Chong in responsed asked if the case could be rectified and Nantha said he believed it could be done.

The DAP MP also thanked Malaysians for their contributions to the Frusis fund which was organised by DAP.

“There are many Malaysians who are caring,” he said adding that the fund received RM13,000.