KUCHING: The coming 11th state election is
crucial to ensure that the rights of Sarawakians is protected within the
context of Malaysia, said SUPP-BN candidate for Batu Kitang, Lo Khere Chiang.
According to Lo, this election is not the same
as previous elections, as this election is about putting up the right leader
with the right formula and team.
“It
is to ensure that our future generations will benefit from it and we must
encourage the federal government to recognise the rights of Sarawakians under
the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” said Lo during a visit to a 1AZAM
participant at Kampung Bumbok, Jalan
Batu Kitang near here yesterday.
“We
must remind our people that we have the MA63, which contains the 18-points
agreement which is important to every Sarawakian as it outlines the rights and
values of Sarawakians within the context of Malaysia.
“If
we do not fight and continue to ensure that our rights is not eroded, our
future generations would suffer.
“This is what this election is all about. We
vote the right leader and his right team to fight for Sarawak to ensure that
Sarawak moves strongly forward.
“This will ensure that the state politics and
economy will grow stronger with the right policies that are determined by
Sarawakian and nobody else,” Lo pointed out.
Asked whether he is confident of winning the
Batu Kitang seat, Lo said: “I am confident, but then I also know that even
though I am confident, it is not 100 per cent, in an election, anything can
happen.”
Commenting on the Goods and Service Tax (GST),
Lo said its implementation has its pros and cons.
“One
good thing about GST is that everybody from the rich and poor pay taxes
equally. But GST has it repercussion, the prices of goods go up because of it,
but you can see that our Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji Adenan
Satem had waived the GST for councils’ assessment rates and also all services
provided by them,” said Lo.
He
also noted that when GST was imposed, Adenan knew that it was going to increase
the burden of the people. Hence, he has directed all councils to reduce their
assessment rates.
“In
effort to help the people, he has also reduced electricity tariffs, waive land
quit rent, and now he is asking all the councils to reduce assessment rates and
many other things, Lo said.
Earlier, Lo and Padawan Municipal Council
(MPP) councilors paid a visit to two 1AZAM participants at Kampung Bumbok.
Puan
Serojah Libeg and Puan Ekon Kobok are two of seven participants for the 1AZAM
Niaga (Kiosk) which started last year.
A
total of 12 poor families were assisted under the 1AZAM programme where seven
of the participants are under the 1AZAM Food Kiosk, one participant for 1AZAM
Grocery Kiosk and four participants for the 1AZAM grass cutting business, which
bring a total fund allocated by the Ministry of Women, Welfare and Family
Development to the council to RM93,420.00 (RM7,785 each participant).
Lo
also encouraged the needy to register under the e-Kasih programme at the
nearest district office.
“This is because the basic condition to get
the aid from 1AZAM and others is that they must be registered with e-Kasih.
With that then they can get a lot of assistance provided by the government to
help them,” he said.
Lo
also expressed his gratitude to Datuk Hajah Fatimah Abdullah and her ministry
for giving the fund for the 1AZAM programme.
By : Christopher Lidom
Date Posted : Friday 22-Apr-2016
No comments:
Post a Comment