S'wak Amanah Youth objects to appointment of parliamentary coordinators

Sarawak Amanah Youth has reportedly objected to state Pakatan Harapan deputy chief Baru Bian’s appointment of 19 parliamentary coordinators earlier today.

According to the Borneo Post, Sarawak Amanah Youth chief Abu Tariq claimed that the appointments were made without prior discussion nor decision from the state Pakatan Harapan leadership.

“Amanah Sarawak that is contesting in parliamentary constituencies such as Santubong, Batang Sadong, Tanjong Manis, Batang Lupar and Samarahan should have its representatives appointed as the parliamentary coordinators but this is not the case,” he was quoted as saying in a report today.

Instead, he said the parliamentary coordinators appointed for these constituencies hailed from Sarawak PKR.

He claimed this deprived Amanah Sarawak representatives of the opportunity to be appointed as parliamentary coordinators in constituencies the party had contested during the 2018 general election and as such was a clear attempt to deny Sarawak Amanah its role in the Harapan coalition.

“Due to this disappointment, Sarawak Amanah Youth has completely rejected the appointment of the parliamentary coordinators.

“A letter of objection will be sent to the chairperson of Sarawak Pakatan Harapan and to the Pakatan Harapan presidential council,” he said.

The parliamentary coordinators were appointed for 19 parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak that are held by opposition MPs.

Baru, who made the appointments in his capacity as State Development Action Council chairperson, said they were tasked with ensuring that all development programmes under the federal government’s five-year plans were implemented correctly.

Each of the 19 coordinators would be provided an annual allocation of RM500,000 each subject to approval by the director-general of the Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department and the Sarawak State Development Office director.

They would also represent the Harapan-controlled federal government in promoting and facilitating the implementation of its policies in Sarawak while strengthening relationships with the people in parliamentary constituencies held by the opposition, said Baru.