By Aida Aziz
IPOH: Contrary to claims made by an NGO activist in a viral video, the state government has never approved an allocation of RM30 million for the development of Kampung Baru Cina.
Instead, according to Menteri Besar Perak, Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, this is an initiative of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), which is responsible for managing Kampung Baru Cina affairs, including upgrading facilities such as roads and drains.
“Referring to a video clip featuring an NGO activist who falsely claimed that the Perak Government approved RM30 million last year for the development of Kampung Baru Cina, it is even worse when the activist, while sharing a stage with opposition party leaders, fabricated stories claiming that the Perak Government approved this allocation under political pressure.
“The Perak Government has never approved such an allocation. Instead, it is an initiative of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), which is responsible for managing Kampung Baru Cina affairs, including upgrading facilities like roads and drains,” he said in a statement here today.
The recent viral video titled ‘Fear of Land Seizure, Perak Approves RM30 Million for Kampung Baru Cina Development’ has received various reactions from the public on social media.
Saarani expressed his disappointment that the activist made misleading statements on a political platform, deliberately spreading false information that led to public misconceptions about the state government.
“It is particularly concerning that some netizens accepted these statements as fact, leading to various negative perceptions and comments, which in turn caused racially motivated debates on social media.
“For the record, if KPKT is responsible for developing infrastructure in Kampung Baru Cina, the federal government, through various agencies under the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, is responsible for developing rural facilities,” he added.
He further noted that, for example, in 2023, the federal government spent RM2.55 billion on providing various facilities in rural areas, including the construction of new roads, water and electricity supplies, and upgrading bridges and repairing damaged roads.
He stated that the state government welcomes healthy discourse and discussions, but these should be based on the truth, not on blind commentary that distorts facts or fabricates stories to create confusion in society.
