DAP, SUPP quarrel over distribution of BR1M cheques

Volunteers from two political parties feuded over government welfare cheques meant for rural Chinese constituents near Batu Kawah, Kuching, resulting in a spat of angry statements and a police report.

The service centres of both DAP and Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) had accused the other of thievery and lowbrow politics over the distribution of BR1M (1 Malaysia People's Aid) cheques to rural constituents, whose forwarding addresses made out to the service centres of both parties.

Under BR1M, a welfare and stimulus programme started in 2011, households earning less than RM3,000 receive RM1,000 in four installments. Single working adults earning less than RM2,000 receive RM400.

DAP said the BN component had obtained the welfare cheques that was meant to be distributed by the opposition party to Batu Kawah poor constituents who reside in areas too isolated for the postal service to reach.

Christina Chiew, who is the DAP incumbent of Batu Kawah, said in a statement that SUPP had "hijacked" the cheques and was taking credit for its distribution.

"Just because this year is an election year, SUPP is willing to resort to unethical actions to mislead the public," she said.

In a press conference on Friday, Chiew told reporters that she believed the SUPP was using its connections with the government to get the cheques redirected.

SUPP had said it legally received the Resident's Office's approval to direct the cheques to the BN component's headquarters in Kuching.

'Ill intentions'

In a party statement, the BN component accused Chiew of making "ill-intentioned, malicious, untrue" statements.

"At the Resident's Office's request, SUPP headquarters was asked to help distribute some 4,824 BR1M vouchers to qualified recipients in the Padungan, Pending, Batu Lintang, Kota Sentosa and Batu Kawah areas.

"Having the people's interests at heart, the resident's office wants to avoid any possible delays in distribution the vouchers; and to ensure that only qualified recipients receive their BRIM vouchers at the soonest possible," the statement said.

Chiew lodged a police report on Wednesday. In the report, Chiew stated that she went to SUPP's headquarters on April 12 after hearing of the missing cheques and retrieved over 25 of them from SUPP staff. The report said a SUPP staff member later went to her office and demanded the letters back, whereupon she surrendered them, fearing an escalation.

SUPP said Chiew had fabricated the story.

"Of the 125 BR1M Vouchers being delivered by Lim Ah Ted (SUPP Batu Kawah service centre representative), 31 vouchers were indeed addressed to Chiew’s office. We must hand deliver every piece of voucher to the intended recipient and we need to conduct the verification process.

"This verification process had apparently upset DAP's Chiew. She demanded that vouchers be handed over to her and she threatened Mr Lim by saying that she would issue a press release if Mr Lim refused," SUPP said in a statement.

The party added that SUPP's "good name" has been smeared by Chew and is considering legal action.

In a press conference on Friday, DAP Chong Chieng Jen accused SUPP of delaying the distribution of cheques: "Some of them are dated February. They're only handing it out during the elections. SUPP's tactics are disgusting, beyond words."

When contacted, SUPP Kuching branch chairperson Lily Yong said she was not aware of the BR1M distribution process. SUPP executive secretary Tonia Kon could not be reached for comment.

In March, the Finance Ministry said 7.1 million people were approved to receive cash under the scheme this year, costing a total of RM5 billion.

Sarawak goes to the polls on May 7. -Mkini