PENGGERAK Komuniti Tempatan (PeKT), a group of community activists working in opposition states, is under the purview of the Housing and Local Government Ministry and apolitical, said minister Zuraida Kamaruddin.

It is not linked to Penggerak Komuniti Negara (PKN), a political group aligned to her cabinet colleague Mohamed Azmin Ali.

Zuraida said PeKT was panned when it was allocated RM8.6 million for its programmes under Budget 2021 because it was mistaken for PKN.

“PeKT is an entity under the Housing and Local Government Ministry, and its officers are appointed according to procedure and after screening,” she said in her minister’s speech on the budget in the Dewan Rakyat today.

She stated PeKT was inspired by PKN which was launched in 2019 and made up of various non-governmental organisations and Azmin’s supporters in PKR.

Azmin and Zuraida left PKR in February to side with Muhyiddin Yassin’s Bersatu and his allies including Umno and PAS.

Zuraida said the budgetary allocation to PeKT was for operating expenses and monthly programmes.

“The programmes are subjected to guidelines. Political content is not allowed at all. The programmes must also be approved by my ministry first and they will be monitored.”

PeKT will operate in three opposition-held states, Selangor, Penang and Negri Sembilan, with a total 46 local councils.

This year, it received RM2.6 million to fund its programmes in these three states, said Zuraida.

PeKT has been accused of being a tool of the federal government to turn voters against the Pakatan Harapan state governments.

Wong Kah Woh (Ipoh Timur-PH) in a statement said Zuraida had failed to provide satisfying answers to questions about PeKT.

“She must answer whether the appointment of PeKT members is political and if her ministry does not have confidence in the local government in the states ruled by the opposition.”

Wong said it was clear that Zuraida was trying to hide that the programmes were for political purposes.

“The RM8.6 million allocated to PeKT in the 2021 Budget must be withdrawn and used for other purposes that benefit the people,” he added. – November 25, 2020.