Warisan Kudat acting divisional chief Fauziah Mohd Fuad Stephens has accused the GRS government of using cash aid under the Sentuhan Kasih Rakyat Sabah (Syukur) programme as an election-year tactic to win votes.
She clarified that Warisan is not against financial assistance but questioned why it was only being distributed now, just before the elections.
“Why is this aid only coming now? If the government truly cared, why wasn’t it provided in previous years?” she asked.
Fauziah claimed many in northern Sabah had yet to receive the aid despite being on the e-Kasih list, suggesting that the government had failed to ensure fair and transparent distribution.
She warned that handouts should not be used as a distraction from Sabah’s ongoing infrastructure crisis.
“For nearly five years, GRS has failed to fix water shortages, damaged roads, and unstable electricity supply. A RM300 handout won’t change that,” she said.
Her remarks echo those of Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who slammed the cash aid while questioning why the state borrowed money from Putrajaya to solve water issues but had funds for handouts.
“The government claims to be helping the people, but if they truly cared, why did they borrow to fix water problems? Why is there money for cash aid but not for something as essential as water supply?” Shafie said in Pitas.
He urged voters to take the money but to remember that it belongs to them, not the government, and to think of their future when casting their votes.
The RM358.5 million Syukur programme provides RM300 monthly to 100,000 poor and hardcore poor households until the end of 2025. It was launched by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in Tuaran on February 19.
GRS deputy secretary Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali defended the programme, dismissing criticisms as political rhetoric.
“Shafie can say whatever he wants, but what did he do when he was in power? If RM300 is not enough, did he even give RM100? RM10? Even RM1?” Armizan said during an event in Papar.
He defended the aid, saying it was a long-term initiative under Hajiji’s leadership, with RM358.5 million allocated to 100,000 recipients.
Armizan insisted that the assistance was distributed fairly and not limited to certain areas or political strongholds.
“This is not like before, where people had to queue at a leader’s house to get aid. We ensure that those eligible receive it directly,” he said.
He also argued that while RM300 might seem small, it made a big difference to those in need, adding that the state government wanted people to “not just hear about Sabah’s revenue growth but also feel its benefits.”
The distribution of cash aid during an election year is a grey area under Malaysian election laws.
While not outright illegal, the Election Offences Act 1954 (Section 10) prohibits bribery, including monetary inducements meant to influence voters.
Government aid programs are typically framed as official welfare initiatives, but concerns arise when handouts coincide with elections, raising questions about political intent.
The Election Commission (EC) and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) have the authority to investigate cases where aid distribution appears linked to electoral gain.
Fauziah, however, maintained that Sabahans deserved real solutions, not short-term cash handouts meant to sway voters ahead of the elections.
“If GRS cannot fix basic issues after nearly five years, then what have they actually done for the people?” she asked, adding that Warisan would hold them accountable. – March 1, 2025
