Sarawak State Development Action Council appoints 19 parliamentary coordinators

The Sarawak State Development Action Council today appointed 19 parliamentary coordinators to ensure all development programmes under the federal government's five-year plan are carried out accordingly.

Council chairperson Baru Bian (photo, above) today said each of the appointed coordinators would be entrusted with the prime minister’s special allocation of RM500,000 annually, approved only by the director-general of the Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department and the State Development director.

“This special allocation has to be utilised during the current year in accordance with the honourable prime minister’s directive. This allocation is a public fund and must be spent by strictly following the stipulated guidelines,” he said at a press conference after presenting the appointment letters to the coordinators.

According to Baru, the coordinators will represent the Pakatan Harapan government in promoting and facilitating the implementation of the Federal government’s policies in Sarawak, while strengthening relationships with the people in parliamentary constituencies held by the opposition.

“This (appointment of parliamentary coordinators) to me is the reflection of the federal government's seriousness in trying to communicate with the 'rakyat' (people) on the ground while ensuring that the people in Sarawak will continue to benefit from federal government projects,” he said.

Baru, who is also the Works Minister and the MP for Selangau, said the coordinators represented the third channel which the Federal government had established in Sarawak, following the introduction of the Federal Village Community Management Council (MPKKP) and Komuniti Harapan Malaysia initiatives.

Among the 19 appointees are Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia's (Bersatu) Sarawak chairperson, Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian, who will serve as the coordinator for the Santubong parliamentary constituency and PKR's Sarawak women's chief, Nurhanim Hanna Mokhsen, who will act as the coordinator for Petra Jaya.

The other coordinators are Jemree Sabli (Kota Samarahan), Reginald Abell Gaok (Serian), Jamilah Baharuddin (Batang Sadong), Abang Zulkipli Abang Engkeh (Batang Lupar), Norina Umoi Utot (Sri Aman), Noel Changgai Bucking (Betong), Datuk Seri Abang Aditajaya Abang Alwi (Tanjong Manis), Andri Zulkarnaen Hamden (Igan), Chen Nguk Fa (Kanowit), Abdul Jalil Bujang (Mukah), Tengku Gruna (Kapit), Abun Sui Anyit (Hulu Rajang), Kilo Lutan (Bintulu), Ibrahim Mohamad (Sibuti), Roland Engan (Baram), Edward Bulot Yakut (Limbang) and Zehegkiel Piree (Lawas).

- Bernama