BAU: The last-minute change of venue for the Mas Gading B2 motorcycle licence assistance programme was intended to create a political issue against Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), says Datuk Henry Harry Jinep.
The Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) deputy president said Mas Gading MP Mordi Bimol had initially booked the SJK Chung Hua hall but moved the programme to the Datuk Peter Nansian Hall at the Singai Research and Development Centre (Redeems) two days before the event.
Henry said other venues were available in Bau, including halls belonging to federal government agencies and hotels.
“What made him change his mind and hold it at Redeems?
“The idea was that when we did not allow him to use the hall, he could claim that we were obstructing him,” he said when speaking to reporters after briefing PDP members from the Tasik Biru constituency at the Tasik Biru Service Centre here last night.
The briefing addressed claims raised by Mordi, who is also Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, in an episode of the Tuak Talk podcast.
Henry explained that Redeems was developed using Sarawak government funds and GPS would not allow the opposition to use the facility.
“He has the capacity as a deputy minister to hold the programme elsewhere in Bau.
“What was the rationale for changing the venue to Redeems just two days before the event? He wanted to create an issue to provoke GPS,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, Henry denied Mordi’s allegation that the presentation of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land titles in Tasik Biru was an election gimmick.
The Tasik Biru assemblyman said the surveying and issuance of NCR land titles were carried out throughout the year, with 6,168 titles issued since 2018.
He said the latest presentation in June saw 2,109 titles issued in conjunction with the opening of the Bau Bidayuh Cultural Centre.
“All land that has been surveyed and processed has received its title. We have fulfilled our responsibility,” he said.
Henry also questioned the federal government’s contribution towards land surveying and documentation in Sarawak.
“Every year, I present land titles. Does that mean the election is always the next day?
“What has he done concerning land titles, and how much federal funding has been provided for the land-surveying process?” he asked.
