KUCHING: Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Tan Kai has dismissed recent allegations by Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen as politically motivated and factually unfounded, warning that such claims risk misleading the public about the council’s responsibilities in project execution.
In a statement issued yesterday, Tan clarified that the grant application referenced by Chong was submitted without essential project documentation, including technical specifications, bill of quantities or a defined scope of works.
“We received only a letter mentioning a grant release application. Without fundamental project components, no implementing agency can proceed responsibly or be held accountable for any delays,” Tan explained.
He emphasised that proper project implementation required coordination with the implementing authority from the planning stage to ensure designs, budgets and standards comply with government procedures.
“Chong, as a former Deputy Federal Minister, should understand this process. One cannot bypass the implementing authority, provide no technical input, and later express surprise when a project stalls,” Tan stated.
The chairman noted that Chong’s questions had already been comprehensively addressed by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian during his ministerial winding-up speech at the recent Sarawak State Legislative Assembly sitting.
“Despite receiving a clear answer in the DUN, Chong has chosen to rehash this issue through media statements. This appears more focused on generating headlines than finding genuine solutions,” he remarked.
Tan characterised the approach as prioritising publicity over substance, adding: “This is not about serving the people. Repeating answered questions with inaccurate framing is about media attention, not meaningful dialogue.”
He called on opposition leaders to engage constructively rather than politicising development matters, stressing that productive collaboration would better serve Padawan’s residents than pursuing media coverage through misleading statements.
The MPP chairman urged all parties to focus on factual discourse and proper channels for addressing development concerns in the district.
