Over in the peninsula, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's critics such as Dr Mahathir Mohmad have accused him of subscribing to the mantra that "cash is king", where support is procured through generous rewards.
Across the South China Sea, however, an opposition leader has accused the prime minister of being a miser instead.
Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian made the allegation in rejecting Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president James Masing's explanation on the use of military aircraft to ferry 180 village chiefs to Putrajaya.
He said Masing's claim that the military had loaned their planes in recognition of the Kanowit's role in efforts to root out communist insurgents failed to make sense.
He pointed out that such aircraft were not made for comfort and flights took longer than commercial planes.
"Surely they deserved to fly business class on a comfortable plane. It is the least Masing could have done for them, after all the sacrifices they made.
"Did he make the 'ultimate sacrifice' and travel with the village chiefs on the military plane or did he fly in the comfort of a commercial plane?" he asked in a statement today.
Baru also suggested that Masing was not serious about recognising those who fought the communists because the latter only singled out the people of Kanowit but not the Song, Kapit and Belaga.
"What about those who live in other areas? I know a few ex-Sarawak Rangers in Long Semadoh, who fought the communists. Why are they not similarly 'rewarded'?
"If Masing is really serious about rewarding those who fought the communists, why not fight for their pensions to be raised? That would be fair to all ex-service personnel and certainly that would be more useful to them," he said.
'Masing and PM being stingy'
The village chiefs from various parts of Sarawak were brought to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's official residence for a lunch meeting on Sept 28.
They were flown in on two Airbus A400M Atlas planes. Masing said he organised the flight and sought the military's assistance.
The BN leader said he resorted to such methods because he could not afford commercial flights for the entire entourage.
Netizens have criticised the use of the planes on grounds that it is an abuse of military resources and disrespectful to the village chiefs.
"I reiterate that it was appallingly disrespectful for Masing or Najib to be so stingy and fly them in a plane not designed for commercial use.
"With all the billions (from donations), Najib could have easily chartered a plane to fly them to Putrajaya if he had any respect for them," said Baru.- Mkini
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