Stampin MP breaks down RM4.2mln constituency allocation for 2023, education leads with 72.3 pct

Chong (second left) with his special assistants Soo Tien Ren (left) and Sim Kiat Leng (second right), as well as DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) organising secretary Anthony Chin Fang Chi in a group photo following the press conference held at DAP HQ on Jan 29, 2024.

By Ashley Sim

KUCHING, Jan 29: The Stampin Parliamentary Constituency Service Centre, which received a total constituency allocation of RM4.2 million in 2023, spent RM3,019,700 (72.3 per cent) on education, RM977,007.95 (23.4 per cent) on non-governmental organisations and charities, and RM179,500 (4.3 per cent) on healthcare.

Stampin Member of Parliament (MP) Chong Chieng Jen disclosed today the utilisation of the parliamentary constituency allocation for the Stampin parliamentary constituency in 2023, which the Federal government granted as a demonstration of transparency and accountability.

“In 2023, the Stampin Parliamentary Constituency Service Centre, like all other parliamentary constituency service centres, was granted two allocations: an Outright Grant (OG) allocation of RM2.2 million and a Project Mesra Rakyat (PMR) allocation of RM2 million.

“As of Dec 15, 2023, the service centre has given out RM2,194,807 of its OG allocation and approved RM1,981,400 of the PMR projects allocation. The utilisation rate for the constituency allocation by the Stampin parliamentary constituency allocation was 99.4 per cent.

“We have received a total of 28 applications for the PMR projects. Out of these applications, a total amount of RM1,941,400 (98 per cent) was for education purposes to provide smart TVs and hardware upgrading of the teaching facilities in schools, while RM40,000 was for the JKKK (Village Development and Security Committee) of a kampung in the constituency,” he told reporters at a press conference held today at the Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak HQ here.

Chong, who is also Sarawak DAP chairman, went on to say that a total of 882 applications have been received for the OG allocation, of which a total of RM1,078,300 (49.1 per cent) was for education purposes, RM937,007.95 (42.7 per cent) was for NGOs and charitable activities, while the remaining RM179,500 (8.2 per cent) was for healthcare purpose.

“For education purposes, among the new programmes we have carried out is the reward for students who scored good results in their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) as well as our Tertiary Education Financial Assistance Fund, which is an annual grant for students from low-income families who are pursuing their studies at local universities.

“We will continue with these programmes and projects this year after we have received an allocation from the federal government,” he explained.

Chong, also Padungan assemblyman, continued: “So, basically, this is the gist of the utilisation of the parliamentary constituency of Stampin and, well, we published these figures in compliance with the principles of accountability and transparency under the government.

“Bear in mind that it covers the three DUN (State Legislative Assembly) constituencies: Batu Kawah, Batu Kitang, and Kota Sentosa under Stampin.

“If you compare this allocation to that of state elected representatives (ADUNs) of GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak), they have RM9 million for each state constituency annually.”

He further noted that the other ADUNs (assemblymen) should disclose the utilisation of their constituencies.

“This is done to ensure that the people are aware of how their elected representatives are using the funds provided by the government,” he added. — DayakDaily