Guan Eng No Intimidation Tok Batins Salaries Will Keep Flowing

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CAMERON POLLS | Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng today assured that the Orang Asli tok batin (village chiefs) will continue receiving their salaries, stressing that there will be no intimidation against them
This comes after PKR senator Bob Manolan Mohd allegedly warned the village chiefs yesterday that they could lose their salaries if they did not support Pakatan Harapan
“Of course we do not agree with not paying salaries. As the government, we have to pay salaries definitely
“If there is (a threat), then it is wrong. There should be no threat, no coercion and no intimidation
“So just because of one remark – if it is true – it does not represent the federal government,” Lim told journalists on the sidelines of the Cameron Highlands by-election nomination this morning
Bob Manolan yesterday said that the tok batin could lose their posts and income if they do not support the Pakatan Harapan government
He later clarified that he meant the village chiefs should not be involved with Umno while receiving an allowance from Putrajaya due to a conflict in interest
However, he did not address his comment on depriving the tok batin of their posts or salaries, which was caught in an audio recording
'Not something you mess around with'Lim likened the situation to PAS-controlled Kelantan, where Putrajaya extended an RM22.5 million loan to the opposition-held state so that it can pay the salaries and emoluments of state civil servants
“Even though they (PAS) hammered me, I still said I would pay because this is not something you mess around with
“This is civil servants’ salaries, which they use to feed their families
“So I think the commitment of the federal government is never in question,” he said
Candidate stands apartMeanwhile, Pakatan Harapan's Cameron Highlands candidate M Manogaran also chose to distance himself from Bob Manolan’s comment
“I will distance myself from that comment and I think he has made some clarifications,” Manogaran told reporters after the close of the nomination process
Several tok batin who spoke to Malaysiakini after the event expressed anger and disappointment with regard to Bob Manolan's remarks
The Orang Asli make up 22 percent of the Cameron Highlands electorate, who will go to the polls on Jan 26
Based on previous general election results, the community consistently voted for BN in overwhelming numbers
 -Mkini

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