Works minister Baru Bian has welcomed the move by the Sarawak government to allocate Minor Rural Project (MRP) grants to Pakatan Harapan assemblypersons.

In a statement to Malaysiakini, Baru said that the issue was discussed during a meeting with the Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg on July 9 in Kuching.

Baru, who is also the Ba'kelalan assemblyperson, said this in response to the Sarawak tourism, arts, culture, youth and sports minister Abdul Karim Hamzah, who was quoted mentioning the grants in BNBBC earlier today – the first such initiative by the state government. 

Abang Johari is expected to announce the quantum of the payout soon.

"I welcome and thank the state government for the decision. Any forms of cooperation for the good of the people must be continued. This is the reason that the Harapan government has already initiated such move to offer allocations to all opposition MPs.

"We do not want to neglect the people in their respective constituencies, and this is to ensure that the well being of the people is taken care of," Baru said in his statement.

The Sarawak government allocates RM9 million a year to every assemblyperson of the independent state-based coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak, which includes RM5 million under the Rural Transformation Project (RTP) and RM4 million under MRP.

No opposition members of the state assembly were previously allocated any funds.