KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Wilfred Madius Tangau today defended himself for receiving RM600 under the rubber smallholders’ monsoon season aid.
He noted that there is no rule that a minister is not entitled to the aid.
“I own a 10-acre (4ha) rubber smallholding in Tamparuli, which is being taken care of by my cousin, Taimin Gindalan, who is also the native chief,” he told FMT here today.
Tangau, who is also Tuaran MP and Sabah trade and industry minister, was listed as a recipient in the monsoon season aid list. The list was spread widely on social media, drawing criticism from netizens.
Some said Tangau should not get the aid as he is already well to do and a public figure.
Any Malaysian smallholder, with less than 6ha of land, registered with the Sabah Rubber Industries Board (SRIB), can receive such aid.
It is understood that the RM600 aid has already been deposited in the bank account of Tangau’s wife. It is meant for three months — from November last year to January this year.
Tangau noted that it was the board’s Tuaran branch which made the list public after it failed to track down several missing smallholders.
Only when the list went viral did more and more smallholders come forward to claim their aid.
In his asset declaration as an MP, Tangau had stated that he earns RM71,932 a month and has properties valued at RM6,170,346. - FMT
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