KUCHING: Sarawak PKR member Iswardy Morni's allegation that the state government has run out funds to the point that it was unable to assist the people affected by Covid-19, was merely a 'smear tactic'.
The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Backbencher Club said the state government had always exercised financial prudence and through this approach, it had been able to maintain good financial ratings given by notable credit rating agencies worldwide.
"This is reflected in its ability to roll out several financial aid to the people through the Sarawakku Sayang Special Assistance (BKSS) which is worth more than RM4.5 billion divided over six iterations from BKSS 1.0 to 6.0," the club said in a statement today.
In BKSS 6.0, the state government also provided allocations for BKSS food aid programme distributed to residents affected by the movement control order (MCO) in all 82 state constituencies worth RM35.5 million.
This was on top of the current expenditure to manage the spread of Covid-19 in the state which included quarantine cost, RT-PCR swabs and procurement of the equipment needed by the medical frontliners.
"To say that the state government is penniless is untrue and is merely an accusation that is not backed by any facts and figures. Such smear tactic will not work as the people know who have been working on the ground, doling out assistance and relief to their constituents."
"We would like to ask him (Iswardy); have you been on the ground and render your services to the people and help the affected? Or have you been too busy bickering on social media, making baseless accusations within the comforts of your home in Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia) – away from the reality and hardship of the locals here in the state?."