Despite denial, leaked memo shows Dr Annuar controls RM1 million in Covid-19 aid

By Chew Lip Song, The New Sarawak

A LEAKED internal memo from the Sarawak government shows that Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee controls RM1 million in Covid-19 relief funds for Sibu, despite his earlier denial that the money would need to go through him.

The memo from Sarawak’s Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Ministry dated Apr 3 shows that Dr Annuar, who is also Assistant Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research was in charge of funds for four other constituencies besides his own.

They are Bukit Asek, Dudong, Pelawan and Bawang Assan, all of which are held by the opposition. The memo was sighted by The New Sarawak.

Earlier, the state government had approved an allocation of RM200,000 for each state constituency as relief funds for those hit by the Movement Control Order (MCO) to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. However, in opposition-held seats, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) representatives would be managing the aid.

This means that Dr Annuar is overseeing RM1 million in relief aid for the five constituencies, including his own. It is the highest amount managed by a single lawmaker.

The only other lawmaker managing RM1 million in aid is Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, who’s taking charge of his own seat Batu Kawah and four opposition-held constituencies, namely Padungan, Pending, Batu Lintang and Kota Sentosa.

Dr Sim also manages RM1 million in aid for KuchingPopular portal Sarawak Report had cited Dr Annuar as an example of the GPS government playing politics with aid for the needy.

On Tuesday, Dr Annuar had denied claims on a blog that all funds for the Covid-19 effort in Sibu had to go through him.

“The accusation that l regulate all these provisions is not true at all,” he was quoted as saying.

But the memo from the Ministry, signed by its Permanent Secretary, Dr Sa’adiah Abdul Samat, clearly states that “All service centres by the assemblymen would manage the purchase of food, verify the receipts and submit the claims to the Division Disaster Committee.”

Attempts are being made to reach Dr Annuar for comments.

The GPS-led government has been criticised for politicising aid for the needy, especially those who lost their incomes due to the MCO. Sarawak DAP chairman and Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen had said that despite having submitted a list of 3,000 households in need of aid in Kuching for a week, help was not forthcoming.

The party had to organise its own fund-raising and food distribution effort.

Sarawak PKR and PAS leaders had also complained about aid not reaching the needy in opposition-held seats due to suspected political discrimination.