Sandakan MP: PN binned Guan Eng's RM4.2m approval for Kg Sim-Sim

SABAH POLLS | Development issues are expected to dominate the campaign for all three incumbent state assemblypersons in Sandakan, with reminders of alleged stalled funds due to a change in the federal government from Pakatan Harapan to Perikatan Nasional.

DAP's Sandakan MP, Vivian Wong claimed that approximately RM4.2 million in allocations approved by former finance minister Lim Guan Eng for repair works in Kampung Sim-Sim had been cancelled after PN took over Putrajaya in March.

Kampung Sim-Sim is one of nine voting districts under the state seat N56 Tanjong Papat.

Wong said her request to Lim was made based on the latter's promise of assistance when he visited the floating village during her campaign trail last year.

She was addressing some 100 voters gathered at the Kampung Bumiputera Melayu indoor futsal court last night

"After the Sandakan by-election was over, I wrote to request allocations for repairs in all 24 Jambatan (bridges)," said Wong, who succeeded her late father Stephen Wong in the by-election held last May.

The Sandakan MP was on the campaign trail in support of Tanjong Papat DAP incumbent Frankie Poon, DAP's Elopura incumbent Calvin Chong and Warisan's Karamunting incumbent George Hiew.

"The funds were approved, so what did we do?

"We waited because the federal government had approved it, so we waited for the funds to reach Sabah," said Wong in reference to herself and Poon.

Wong said their wait eventually led to the change of federal government from Harapan to PN, and the start of the movement control order (MCO) enforced in March.

"Then in July after the MCO, I asked for an update from the Sandakan City Council (MPS), 'how about the allocations to repair all the bridges? When can we start work'?

"One month later, I received a letter from the MPS informing that all RM4.2 million allocations to repair bridges in Kampung Sim-Sim have been cancelled without any reason given.

"I still have the letter, at the right time I will show it so that voters in Kampung Sim-Sim will know what the PN government did to all of you," she said.

Aside from the RM4.2 million, Wong said she also applied and received approval from the Finance Ministry for a separate allocation to improve the sewerage system at Lorong A to Lorong H, a predominantly Chinese area under the Sim-Sim voting district.

"That allocation was also cancelled, amounting to almost RM4 million.

"So in total close to RM10 million to develop Kampung Sim-Sim is gone because the government cancelled it without any reasons, or maybe because I am not a PN MP," she claimed.

Poon yesterday told Malaysiakini that the issue of repairs in Kg Sim-Sim was a constant problem as the bridges in the floating village were not made too last.

Malaysiakini has contacted the Finance Ministry for comments. - Mkini