PM announces RM1 bil development fund for S'wak
Malaysiakini.com
Jun 10, 2008
Tony Thien 

Sarawak PKR today 'welcomed' Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on his one-day visit to Sarawak with banners urging him to reduce petrol prices and increase oil and gas royalties from five percent to 20 percent for the state.
MCPX

PKR welcoming PM 100608Party members with the banner gathered at roadside where the motorcade passed through carrying the PM and Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Some police personnel turned up to try and stop PKR members from displaying the banners. There was, however, no untoward incident or arrest.

The party members dispersed peacefully after that.

Last night, on his return from overseas, Taib told reporters that he hoped the federal government would be equally fair to Sarawak as in it was towards Sabah in terms of financial development allocation.

abdullah ahmad badawi pm mihas halal convention 080508 04At a breakfast meeting this morning with Sarawak BN elected representatives and state ministers, Abdullah was questioned by senior state minister Awang Tengah about the RM1 billion 'goodies' he announced recently while in Sabah.

A state assemblyperson also claimed that Abdullah had claimed to have been taken out of context by the media on his allocations for Sabah.

Apparently the premier told the meeting that he had on paper the actual allocations and was prepared to show it to those present.

There were the usual courtesies shown in his presence by the BN elected representatives but many held little back to indicate what they really thought of him in his absence later.

MPs get RM15,000 helicopter allowance

However before leaving, Abdullah issued a statement saying that an additional RM1 billion had been allocated to Sarawak for infrastructural development, especially in the rural and coastal areas.

He also said that each MP would be given RM15,000 extra for helicopter hire to service their rural constituencies.

Earlier today, he flew to Sebuyau in Simunjan district and opened a RM6.8 million bridge. He announced that a number of areas in Sarawak had been identified for large-scale rice cultivation to turn the state into a rice granary.

Later, he went to Tebedu near the border with Indonesia and addressed the Bidayuh community there.

But those who had turned up expecting him to bring some good news were said to be very disappointed.

There is little secret that the Bidayuh community has been disappointed that not one single elected representative from the community has been appointed minister or deputy minister after the recent general election.

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