SUPPOTERS REMOVED LAPTOP RECIPIENTS

By : BOBBY YEE

KOTA KINABALU: Matunggong Assemblyman Jelani Hamdan has promised to investigate claims that many recipients of the 1Malaysia laptop in his constituency have had their names removed from the list, for allegedly supporting the opposition in the last general election. Their names have apparently been replaced.

Jelani said he will be conducting a thorough investigation by checking the original list that contained the names of recipients claiming they have been removed.

Apparently, the same was done to senior citizens and single mothers who were suspected of supporting the opposition in the polls.

He said if the claims were true, it would be deemed a form of mistreatment and gross injustice to these groups of people.

Jelani said that they deserved aid from the government irrespective of whether they are supporters of the opposition or Barisan Nasional (BN).

He reminded BN leaders and their operatives not to be overzealous in meting out “punishment” to those who were only exercising their rights as registered voters.

The people, he said, have the right to receive aid from the government irrespective of their political affiliation.

“If the claims are true, I will highlight this during the State Legislative Assembly sitting,” he said.

He claimed to have proof of senior citizens whose names no longer appeared in the list of aid recipients.

Jelani said there were also claims that some recipients of the longhouse in Matunggong had been replaced.

“We also know that there are leaders who grabbed land that have been earmarked for poor people in the constituency,” he said.

On this, he said the people ought to be given priority like what the BN had been advocating, People First, Performance Now.

Stressing that he was not confrontational by nature, he will however execute his duty and responsibility as an elected representative as entrusted to him by the people.