‘Revoking aid to disabled farmer a shameful act’
PKR vice president N Surendran says that the aid termination for disabled Sarawak farmer Frusis Lebi is a high-handed, unlawful, intolerant and shameful act.
PETALING JAYA: PKR vice president N Surendran said denying aid to a disabled farmer in Sarawak was a high-handed and a shameful act by the BN led Sarawak government.
Fifty-one-year-old Frusis Lebi’s hands and feet are deformed. So it came as a double blow to him when he discovered last year that both his welfare allowance and his subsidies for fertilitiser and seedlings were revoked.
Lebi, who lives in Entulang longhouse in Sri Aman, is an opposition supporter who believes he has been victimised by Mong Dagang, the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth chief, who is also the State Assistant Minister of Agriculture (research and marketing).
Lebi’s biggest mistake was that he openly supported the opposition in the last state election and hoisted a PKR flag in front of his house.
He added that the (Sarawak Chief Minister) Taib Mahmud administration breached the constitution and that BN’s action was against democracy.
“By punishing Frusis Lebi for supporting the opposition, the Sarawak state government has breached his constitutional right to freedom of association under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.
“What the BN has done in Frusis Lebi’s case goes against the very basis of our democratic system of government. It also makes nonsense of Prime Minister Najib’s promises of reform and a fairer administration,” said Surendran in a press statement.
Surendran also accused BN of being insensitive to the needs of the disabled community and failed to hear the plight of the disabled as echoed by disabled advocacy groups.
“Indeed, the BN government acts as if the disabled do not exist.
“The BN has a long track record of complete insensitivity to the needs of the disabled.
“The needs of the disabled in terms of education, access to public facilities and employment opportunities have long been neglected under the BN,” he said.
Surendran further charged that Mong Dagang’s actions was a reflection of BN’s track record in coercing support for the party.
“This disgraceful act is also consistent with Barisan Nasional’s long history of misusing government powers to bribe, threaten, terrorise and illegally pressure citizens into supporting the BN.”
He also wants the Sarawak state government to apologise to Lebi with both welfare and subsidies restored.
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