A venue to express opinions and views on social issues, native customary rights land, cultures and traditions of the Dayak community as well as to voice out the problems and grievances of the indigenous and rural communities.
Saturday, 31 May 2014
SELAMAT GAWAI DAYAK TO ALL READERS AND MEMBERS
SELAMAT GAWAI DAYAK TO ALL READERS AND MEMBERS OF SEMATONG EXPRESS.
Aram Meh Kitai Semoa Ngajihka Diri Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai, Lantang Senang Chelap Lendap, Gayu Ko Petara Nadai Apa Ko Antu Nguan Menoa.
Full judgment of Court of Appeal in Harris Salleh vs Yong Teck Lee & Another
IN THE COURT OF
APPEAL OF MALAYSIA
(Appellate
Jurisdiction)
CIVIL APPEAL NO.
S-02-691-03/2012
BETWEEN
DATUK YONG TECK
LEE
(Sued in his
personal capacity and as
an officer of the
2nd Appelant)
... 1st APPELLANT
SABAH PROGRESSIVE
PARTY
... 2nd APPELLANT
AND
DATUK HARRIS MOHD
SALLEH
... RESPONDENT
In the matter of
Suit No. K22-128-2010 in the High Court in Sabah
and Sarawak at
Kota Kinabalu
Between
Datuk Harris Mohd
Salleh
... Plaintiff
and
Datuk Yong Teck
Lee
Sued in his
personal capacity and as
an officer of the
2nd Defendant)
... 1st Defendant
Sabah Progressive
Party
... 2nd Defendant
CORAM:
LINTON ALBERT, JCA
ANANTHAM
KASINATHER, JCA
ZAKARIA BIN SAM,
JCA
ANANTHAM
KASINATHER, JCA
DELIVERING
JUDGMENT OF THE COURT
BACKGROUND FACTS
1. On 6th June 1976, two Nomad aircraft were scheduled to
return to Kota Kinabalu (K.K), one via Kudat and the other directly to KK. The
nomad aircraft scheduled to return to KK directly, never made it back as it
crashed near Sembulan. A substantial number of the cabinet members of the then
ruling party of the State Government of Sabah namely the Berjaya party
including the then Chief Minister of the State Tun Fuad Stephens were killed in
the crash.
Friday, 30 May 2014
Let's build our dreams together, says DNC president in his Gawai Dayak message
Fellow Dayaks,
On June 1, as Dayaks across Borneo and Malaya gather with
families and friends, on behalf of Dayak National Congress, I wish everyone
Selamat Gawai, Gayu Guru, Gerai Nyamai.
Sarawak Museum Campus project to be built
KUCHING,
May 30, 2014: Dewan Tun Abdul Razak, another gallery of the Sarawak Museum, is
to be demolished, paving the way for the construction of the Sarawak Museum
Campus project.
Be brave to speak up, says Baru Bian in his Gawai Dayak message
Each 1 June, we celebrate the great harvest festival by
thanking God who is the giver of all blessings for providing us with a good
padi harvest for yet another year. In the past we celebrated the spirit of the
gods in the community after the harvesting season.
Thursday, 29 May 2014
Rather suspicious in Penan police report?
KUCHING,
May 29, 2014: Is there more to it than meets the eye?
Monday, 26 May 2014
SUPP sec gen is now a senator
KUCHING,
May 26, 2014: Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) secretary general Sim Kui
Hian was sworn-in today as a senator before Senate President Zahar Ujang at the
Dewan Negara in Kuala Lumpur.
Sabah Forests director condemned
KOTA KINABALU, May 26, 2014:
Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS), Partners of Community Organisations,
Sabah (PACOS Trust) and the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) call on the
Sabah Forest Department (SFD) to get rid of their outdated mentality on Social
or Community Forestry.
SAVE Rivers delegation given wide Norwegian media coverage
KUCHING, May 26, 2014: Sarawak's
anti-dam coalition SAVE Rivers visited the controversial Alta Dam in the North
of Norway late this week, and was given wide publicity by the Norwegian media.
Saturday, 24 May 2014
SNAP's ghost haunting SPDP
By Simon Peter
KUCHING, May 24, 2014: Amateur
historians may well take note that the history of the Sarawak National Party
(SNAP) is being rewritten - through the break-up of its break-away group, the
Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).
SPDP is now led by tycoon Tiong
King Sing as acting president after the sudden departure of president William
Mawan Ikom to join Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).
Friday, 23 May 2014
Sarawak looking at Singapore to solve its squatter problems.
SINGAPORE, May 23, 2014: Sarawak is
looking at Singapore's success story to solve its squatter and dilapidated
kampung problems.
Thursday, 22 May 2014
What's next for SUPP and SPDP?
By Simon Peter
SIBU, May 22, 2014: Ask anyone
in Sibu about the "mass exodus" of SUPP members into a year-old Parti
Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras), they would shake their heads.
Norwegian firm's boss refuses to meet Sarawak natives
KUCHING, May 22, 2014: A delegation of dam-affected natives from
Sarawak have made a surprise call at the Oslo headquarters of Norconsult, the
Norwegian energy consultancy group, in Sandvika, Norway, today.
Wednesday, 21 May 2014
An electricity meter of a Sibu law firm found tampered with
SIBU, May 21, 2014: Electricity meters connected to a law
firm and a massage parlour here were found to have been tampered with as
Sarawak Electricity Supply Corporation (SESCo) continued its offensive against electricity
theft suspects today.
Sarawak focusing on hydropower as clean and sustainable source of energy:SEB
KUCHING, May 21, 2014: Chief
executive officer of Sarawak Energy Berhad Torstein Dale Sjotviet has insisted
on the important role of hydropower projects in Sarawak in harnessing the
potential of the state's renewable energy and driving the state towards
socio-economic prosperity.
Monday, 19 May 2014
Soon Koh expelled from SUPP
KUCHING, May 19,
2014: Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) has expelled Local Government and
Community Development Minister Wong Soon Koh from the party for "announcing
his intention" to join Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) last week.
Norwegian energy firm refuses to meet Sarawak natives
KUCHING, May 19, 2014: John Nyheim, chief executive officer and president
of Norconsult, a leading Norwegian energy consultancy firm, has refused to meet
with a delegation of Borneo natives who are currently in Norway to protest
against the displacement of over 20,000 people and the flooding of hundreds of
square miles of tropical forests in Sarawak.
In a letter to the Norwegian NGO, FIVAS, Nyheim wrote that Norconsult
will not take part in public discussions about Sarawak’s dam plans nor disclose
information on the company’s involvement in the controversial Sarawakian energy
projects.
Sunday, 18 May 2014
Don't use threats over Teras issue
By Simon Peter
KUCHING, May 19, 2014: SUPP Central Women section is well
advised not to use threats against Chief Minister Adenan Satem on the
possibility of Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) applying to join the State
Barisan Nasional.
Such threats are not going to work with Adenan. To those
who know him well, he may well be speeding up the approval of Teras'
application because of the threats.
Saturday, 17 May 2014
Uncertain future for SUPP and SPDP
By
Simon Peter
News
analysis
KUCHING, May 17, 2014: Strong
condemnations are expected against former SPDP president William Mawan and
former SUPP Sibu branch chief Wong Soon Koh when they resigned from their
respective parties to join year-old Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).
What
else is there to say, except to condemn them in the strongest terms possible?
Friday, 16 May 2014
DAP YBs approached to join Teras claim
By Simon Peter
KUCHING, May 16, 2014: Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng
Jen has claimed that the party's elected representatives were "informally approached"
allegedly by Local Government Minister Wong Soon Koh to join Parti Tenaga
Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).
Soon Koh and 10 others, including Social Development
Minister William Mawan, yesterday announced that they were joining Teras, a
party which was registered with the Registrar of Societies (RoS) last year.
Jabu backs DAP to reduce electricity tariffs?
By Simon Peter
KUCHING, May 16, 2014: Did
Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu Numpang know what he was talking about or did
he unconsciously give his support to the DAP signature campaign to reduce
electricity tariffs in Sarawak?
If he does not support the
campaign, why did he question the DAP for excluding the Iban language in the
signature campaign pamphlet?
This is puzzling, to say the
least.
Thursday, 15 May 2014
ABB to review its business in Sarawak?
By Simon Peter
KUCHING, May 15, 2014: Swedish-Swiss
multinational ABB has announced it would review its Malaysia business in a
meeting with NGOs held yesterday in Zurich.
The power technology provider has been heavily
criticised for its involvement in the controversial Murum dam project in Sarawak.
SPDP paralysed, Mawan quits SPDP
By Simon Peter
KUCHING, May 15, 2014: Sarawak Progressive
Democratic Party (SPDP), which is embroiling in an internal crisis, has been
paralysed with the resignation of its president William Mawan Ikom from the
party.
His resignation took effect immediately.
The Way Forward For Sarawak.
Adenan Satem's speech in the
Sarawak State Legislative today, his first as Chief Minister.
May 15, 2014
Datuk Amar Speaker,
I would like first of all to
put on record in this august House our congratulations to Tuan Yang Terutama
Yang di-Pertua Negeri Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud on being appointed as Head of
State on 1st March 2014. It is my great honour to take this
opportunity to pay our deepest respects to Tuan Yang Terutama Yang di-Pertua
Negeri Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud during his tenure as the Chief Minister of
Sarawak.
Under his chief ministership,
Pehin Sri has made tremendous and signal contributions to our beloved State
Sarawak.
Masing gives warning to outsiders
By Simon Peter
KUCHING, May
15, 2014: Land Development Minister James Masing has warned
"outsiders" not to take political disagreements and differences among
Sarawakians as signs of disunity.
Masing: Wilmar's policy will have serious adverse implications on Sarawak
By Simon
Peter
KUCHING, May
15, 2014: Wilmar International Limited's new policy on palm oil industry will
have a very serious adverse socio-economic implications on Sarawak, Land
Development Minister James Masing told the State Legislative Assembly today.
Wednesday, 14 May 2014
Kallang brings their complaints to Europe
By Simon Peter
KUCHING, May 14, 2014: Three Sarawak natives are in Europe to confront European companies
and the public with the human rights abuses and environmental destruction allegedly
taking place in Baram .
SAVE Rivers Chairman Peter
Kallang, Maria Ajang from Long Palai and Lah Jok from Long Liam, two villages
affected by the planned Baram Dam, are on the trip to Europe.
Clandestine efforts to convert Christian Dayak students to Islam
By Simon Peter
KUCHING, May 14, 2014: Angry parents met with Land
Development Minister James Masing at his office this morning, complaining that
there were clandestine efforts by two teachers to convert their children,
studying at SMK Balai Ringin, to Islam.
Tuesday, 13 May 2014
Awang Tengah slams Chong
By Simon Peter
KUCHING, May 13, 2014: Sarawak's electricity supply is
projected to increase to 4,223MW by 2020, from the present 2,286MW, Public Utilities
Minister Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said yesterday.
Major developments currently being undertaken in the
power sector for the generation and transmission systems include:
- full operation of eight generating units of Bakun HEP;
- 944MW Murum HEP expected to begin generating power in
fourth quarter of this year;
- construction of 600MW Balingian coal plant commencing
this year;
- on-going pre-engineering studies for Baleh and Baram
HEPs;
- on-going pre-engineering studies for additional thermal
plants;
- the construction of 600km second backbone 500kV
transmission lines expected to be completed in 2016; and
- the construction and expansion of extra high-voltage
sub-stations at Tada, Similajau, Samalaju, Entinggan, and Matang are on-going
and expected to be completed in 2016.
Awang Tengah makes fun of Chong's mistake
By Simon Peter
KUCHING, May 13, 2014: Public Utilities Minister Awang
Tengah Ali Hasan made fun of a mistake by Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen
who addressed Sarawak Energy Berhad's chief of corporate services Aisah Eden as
a "male".
Chong, who is also the Kota Sentosa State Assemblyman, in
a press statement on April 23, 2014 had mistakenly addressed Aisah as one of
the male expatriates receiving high salary from SEB.
Sunday, 11 May 2014
Unfair intakes and promotions in the Civil Service?
By Simon Peter
KUCHING, May 11, 2014: Pending State Legislator Violet
Yong Wui Wui may have hit the nail on the head when she talked about the racial
compositions in the Civil Service at the State Legislative Assembly last
Friday.
She claimed about unfair intakes and unfair promotions in
the Civil Service, which, she alleged, was a common knowledge on which not much
was done to change the situation.
Saturday, 10 May 2014
Backlogs of NCR land cases at the Native Courts alarming
By
Simon Peter
KUCHING,
May 10, 2014: Krian state legislator Ali Biju has expressed his concern at the
alarming backlogs of cases of native customary rights (NCR) land disputes at
the District Native Courts.
"The
statistics indicate that currently there are about 1,300 cases already filed at
all the District Native Courts in Sarawak.
"These
exclude the cases filed by the NCR landowners at High Courts throughout
Sarawak," he said, pointing out that the number of cases is more than one
thousand indicates something is not quite right and therefore the government
should take immediate
steps to pay urgent attention to resolving and settling these cases.
Upset legislator wants timber license issued to Mastika Jaya revoked
By Simon Peter
KUCHING, May 10, 2014: Batang Ai state legislator Malcolm
Mussen anak Lamoh has hit out at the State government for continuously renewing
a license to Mastika Jaya Plantation Sdn Bhd to extract timber from native
customary rights (NCR) lands in his constituency.
The NCR lands belong to the people from four Iban longhouses
in Lubok Antu district.
Ban all "nonsense people" from Malaya from entering Sarawak: Annuar
By Simon Peter
KUCHING, May 10, 2014: Nangka state legislator Annuar
Rapaee wants all "nonsense
people" from Malaya to be banned from entering Sarawak.
"Therefore, I really support the evocation of the
Immigration Act to ban all these nonsense people who come just to spread lies
and slanders among the society in Sarawak," he said yesterday during the
debate on Governor Taib Mahmud's Royal
Address.
Among those who
have been banned recently from entering Sarawak were PKR strategy director
Rafizi Ramli, PKR vice president Tian Chua, PKR secretary general Saifuddin
Nasution, DAP Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, religious extremist and Perkasa leader
Ibrahim Ali.
Stressed Annuar:"We welcome the Opposition's criticisms
but they must also not twist and spin
the facts," he said, adding that
the Opposition has been launching a psychological war on the country since many
years ago by creating a perverted perception for their own gain.
"Let's pray that we do not be the victims of these psychological
defeat and may I
urge the authorities to be cautious and take appropriate
action against those who make
slanders and lies among the society.
He also issued a challenge to Sarawak DAP to initiate a signature campaign against Hudud law as a
proof that the party is against its implementation the country.
The campaign
should be that there should be no hudud law in this country and that its
elected representatives should make a declaration that they will resign after June
20 if there is hudud law.
"I precisely stated June 20 so that there is no
by-election in the country," he said.
Annuar's suggestion was in reference to the Sarawak DAP's
signature campaign to reduce electricity tariffs by 30% in Sarawak.
The party had collected about 113,000 signatures from the
public since the campaign was launched early this year.
Annuar stressed that the issue on Hudud law was brought
by Opposition elected representatives during the debate on the Royal address,
despite the fact the State government as released a very
strong statement on this issue last week.
"I would like to remind my fellow colleagues in the Opposition
that the party that initiated the Hudud law in this country is none other than
your partner in Pakatan Rakyat, that is, PAS and therefore you are crying or
you are shouting at the wrong battleground here.
"You should have brought up the issue to the Pakatan
Rakyat and go against all out because 85% of your voters has voted you in the last
election because you have said “over my dead body if there is hudud law in this
country”.
Annuar also noted that almost all the Opposition state
legislators, especially the DAP, have brought up the issue of Chinese independent
schools.
"This is just trying to show to the public that
everyone of them trying to be the champion of the Chinese because in the next
election the Chinese voters are important for them.
"That is why Ting Tze Fui (Meradong) and Wong King
Wei (Padungan) brought up the issue to make sure the government of Sarawak to
give financial aid to these Chinese schools.
"In fact, the State government has given them 2000
hectares of land and they are still not satisfied with what has been given. It
is all about politics. They never be satisfied with whatever you give them.
"I want to remind my fellow colleagues that you
never detect what you ask. You should be
thankful for what has been given you," he said.
He also accused
Sarawak DAP chairman and Kota Sentosa state legislator Chong Chieng Jen of
trying to "sabung" (pit) elected representatives from the Barisan
Nasional against each other over the definition of the word "deputy"
in reference to Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu not appointed to succeed Taib
Mahmud as chief minister.
"He (Chong) takes the definition for the word deputy
from Oxford. Yes, the Oxford Dictionary mentioned the "deputy" will
take over as an acting if there is an absence, not if there is a vacant.
"I was actually very surprise to see him defined it
wrongly and does not use the Constitution of Sarawak to refer to the appointment
of the chief minister rather than trying to “sabung” all of us here.
"What I fear is that the opposition brand of
politics has created a very pessimistic society that lack critical thinking
especially among the young generation.
"It has been proven during the demonstration on GST,
they claimed about 50,000 people
go to the street, when in fact it was less than 10,000.
"When each of these people are interviewed what is
GST, none of them know what is GST. That meant they just disagreed for the sake
of disagree.
"This should not be the way that a leader, a
responsible leader. They should explain to the rakyat what is GST. They opposed
GST but yet on the other hand they said they want free education.
" In Finland, GST is at the rate of 24%. Of course
at the rate of 24%, the education is free in Finland. For us here, GST is only
6% GST and yet you ask for free education. You want everything. Nothing is this
world can get everything," he said.
Sadong Jaya state legislator Aidel Lariwoo hit out at
Sarawak DAP for conducting the signature campaig for electricity tariffs
deduction.
"DAP claimed that their signature campaign has
exceeded target of more than 100 thousand signatories.
"Does this really see the true wises of the people
or only the desperation of DAP in trying to sabotage the government hydro dam
and renewable energy development plan? " he asked.
He claimed that those who were involved in conducting the
campaign members of the public, but the DAP members asking people to sign on the piece of paper.
"It was DAP members who did all that, funding money
in their State wide road show distributing pamphlets, not only in the street but
also online trying to convince people to sign for cheaper electricity.
"We should be
questioning ourselves, what is the dangerous agenda that lies
behind the DAP campaign and where are they heading with
this agenda?
"But whatever it is, we hope they will not bring the
culture of threats politic to Sarawak as the people here value peace, racial
harmony, tolerance, and solidarity.
"Our average tariff is already the cheapest in
Malaysia and one of the lowest in the region. If the government does not take the
right step investing in hydro power that made it possible for us, we including
DAP, would not enjoy a lower tariff compare to the other countries in the
region," he said.
Berita ka bala kitai ba Simunjan
May 9, 2014
YB Snowdan Lawan bertanya kepada Menteri Kemudahan Awam:
Apakah status perancangan Kerajaan mengenai bekalan
elektrik luar Bandar di seluruh
DUN Balai Ringin?
Menteri Muda Kemudahan Awam (Y.B. Datuk Dr. Stephen Rundi
anak Utom):
Terima kasih Tuan Speaker dan terima kasih kepada Ahli
Yang Berhormat Balai Ringin. Untuk makluman Ahli Yang Berhormat bagi Balai Ringin, di
bawah Program NKRA, sebanyak 2,043 buah rumah telahpun siap dibekalkan dengan
bekalan elektrik bagi kontrak tahun 2009-2010, 2011-2012 dan 2012-2013.
Projek-projek tersebut meliputi pemasangan talian voltan tinggi 3KV dan 11KV di kawasan
Balai Ringin, Abok, Sungai Tengang, Jaong, Pantok, Terapak dan Lacau. Walau
bagaimanapun, bagi kontrak tahun 2013-2014, kerja-kerja pembinaan masih dalam
pelaksanaan dan kini mencapai 70% dan
dijangka siap Jun tahun ini. Kawasan-kawasan tersebut meliputi kawasan Milikin, kawasan Kampung Jirok, Kampung
Nyelitak, Kampung Sungai Pinang, Kampung Sebangkoi, Kampung Bukit Pundar, Kampung
Gawang, Kampung Gayau dan seterusnya Kampung
Sungai Kura. Bagi projek-projek di bawah kontrak tahun 2013-2015, semuanya sedang dalam pembinaan. Kawasan-kawasan terlibat
ialah Kampung Giam Lama dan Kampung Giam Baru, Simunjan.
Thursday, 8 May 2014
Najib condemned for not condemning the religious extremists
By
Simon Peter
KUCHING,
May 8, 2014: Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian has accused Prime Minister Najib Razak
and his Cabinet colleagues as being completely dumb silent on a
Christian-bashing seminar held at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Shah Alam
two days ago.
"For
this reason the religious and racial extremists are emboldened in their schemes
each day passes by," he said.
Wednesday, 7 May 2014
Chong says will support new chief minister based on three principles
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Thank you Tuan Speaker for giving me this
opportunity
to participate in the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor's
speech
address in this House. First of all, Tuan Speaker, I'd like to congratulate on
the
appointment
of the new Chief Minister. We, DAP here and Pakatan Rakyat as well will
co-operate
with our Chief Minister for the betterment of Sarawak on principle of fairness,
justice
and good governance. We work with anyone who help, genuinely help to build
Sarawak
on the just an equal basis. To combat poverty and cast exploitation to uphold
human
rights and to fight corruption.
Tuan Speaker, we will seek for the interest of
Sarawak and for the future of our
children
to make the Government see our point of views. To understand the people‟s
deepest
hopes and dreams, will do this by speaking up inside and outside this august
House
and we will do so to change the thinking and assessments by all political
leaders
on
basic problem of this State. Tuan Speaker, we will be firm and arm building in
our
political
principles and belief for the benefit of Sarawak. I think Tuan Speaker, we have
proven
ourselves yesterday when we have supported a motion that is beneficial to
Sarawak
as a whole.
Tuan Speaker, since now that we have a new
Chief Minister, it is timely for us to
embark
on a re-appraisal of the Government policies to date. There are three points
that
I would like to highlight here about the re-appraisal of the Government
policies.
Number one, it is timely that we have to
restore the moral authority of the
Government
by standing up to corruption and nepotism. And by eliminating dishonesty
and
self-enrichment among the inner circle of the political leaders.
Number
two, to re-distribute the natural resources and wealth of the State so as to
close
the gap between the rich and the poor. The have’s and the have’s not in the
State.
Three, to re-instate public confidence and
trust in the meaning of democratic
processes
and rights.
These are the three issues about re-appraisal
of the Government policy and I
believe
this is timely for me to raise. It is timely for me to raise these issues
because we
have
a new Chief Minister. On point one to restore the moral authority of the
Government.
There are certain policies that ought to be changed. Policies like land
alienations
policies whereby under the previous administration, hundreds and
thousands
of acres of land has been alienated to family or companies. Companies
owned
by family members or cronies of the political leaders of Barisan Nasional. Such
policy
ought not to be continued. The second aspect is about the award of the
Government
contracts which we have all these while, brought up in this august House.
Contract
should be awarded in the more transparent manner, in a fairer manner, and
open
tender should be carried out before the award of our contracts.
Contract should be awarded in a more
transparent manner, in a fairer manner and open tenders should be carried out
before the award of the contracts and these contracts, these government
contracts should not be awarded to companies, cronies‟ companies I would say. I
think this is the time that the new Chief Minister should look into this
policy, on the distribution of the natural resources and wealth of the State so
as to close the gap between the rich and the poor. I think Tuan Speaker, despite the fact that Sarawak is a
rich State, a State which is rich in natural resources; we have a lot of poor
families. And I have, an answer that I have received in Parliament giving the
figures of poor families, poor and hard core poor families in Sarawak. Amongst
the Ibans, this is a data up to September 2013. Amongst the Ibans, those under
poor and hard core poor families, there are about 24,973 families, amongst
the
Melayu, 12,727 families, amongst the Bidayuhs 4,855 families, amongst the
Melanau
4,038 families, Penans 3,045 families.
Tuan
Speaker, if you attach an average of five persons per family, there are
about
two hundred over thousand, 270,000 people that are living under the poverty
line.
In
Sarawak about 10 per cent of our population is living under poverty or hard
core
poverty
line. Tuan Speaker, if you look further, the poverty line index for our
country, for
Sarawak
it is fixed at RM830. For families earning RM830 per month, these households
are
regarded as poor families. And we all know in an urban area, RM83O per month
you
can hardly survive for any family. So the situation is even more serious if we
take
into
consideration this poverty line index that has been arbitrarily drawn and fixed
at
RM830.
So the situation is even more serious and for a State that has boasted of rich
in
natural
resources, I think this is not doing justice to our people. As such there
should be
a
redistribution of the natural resources, based on income level, not based on
race.
On
the third point, to reinstate public confidence and trust in the meaning of
democratic
process and rights. Tuan Speaker, recently I heard, I have read many
statements
made by our Yang Amat Berhormat Chief Minister talking about the Chinese
ought
to support Barisan Nasional. There should be Chinese Ministers, more Chinese
elected
representatives in the Barisan Nasional. Tuan Speaker, it just shows that the
Barisan
Nasional still could not think out of the box i.e. the Chinese looking after
the
Chinese
community, the Malays looking after the Malay community, the Iban looking
after
the Iban community. Isn't our Chief Minister, a Chief Minister for all races,
for all
Sarawakians.
But why is there a need for Chinese Ministers or Assistant Ministers in
the
Cabinet. Tuan Speaker, I can confidently say that there were times where there
were
many Chinese Ministers, Assistant Ministers in the Cabinet of the Sarawak State
Government.
But they have failed, failed the Chinese community, as such they are
rejected
by the Chinese community either because of their own failure to bring out
issues,
to address issues that are at the heart of the Chinese community or it is as a
result
of Barisan Nasional's policies as a whole in general.
As
such Tuan Speaker, if Yang Amat Berhormat wishes to win the hearts of the
Chinese
community to support Barisan National, it is not through this way of making
threats
of Chinese being marginalized in the state planning policy. These threats will
not
be well received by the Chinese community. If Yang Amat Berhormat truly wants
to
win
the hearts of the Chinese community, show us some policies that are worth
supporting
and amongst them is allocation for Chinese schools, annual allocation for
Chinese
schools. There has been an announcement about alienation of a parcel of
land
2000 hectares somewhere in the northern part of Sarawak for Chinese middle
schools.
Tuan
Speaker, that announcement was made many years ago, until now the land
title
has not been issued yet. Until now many still could not see the land and I
believe
there
is no road access to the land. That was identified to be alienated for the
Board of
Management
of the Chinese middle schools and whether on that parcel of land there's
any
native customary right claim, we don't know, given that there are about 200
over
cases
of native customary right land claim filed in court. I will not be surprised
that the
parcel
that had been identified and proposed to be alienated to the Board of
Management
of Chinese Middle School, is also subject to NCR claims and once the
land
is alienated to the Board of Management of the Chinese Middle School and if
that
NCR
claims surface, what will happen? The government policy is fitting one group of
people
to go against the other group of people and that is not conducive to harmonious
living
in Sarawak. There are lots of state lands in the vicinity of Kuching that's
worth
millions
per acre. If the government is sincere, you could easily identify about 10
acres
to
be alienated immediately to the Chinese Middle Schools and they can start
building
shop
houses sell it or rent it to generate income. That is one way to do it. The
other
way
to do it is just allocate a certain sum ten, twenty million a year for Chinese
Middle
Schools.
What is so difficult? We have five billion revenue a year. Out of that five
billion,
ten, twenty million for the development and assistance of Chinese Middle
Schools
and that can also be applicable to missionary schools. I don't see any
financial
difficulty
for the state government to do that. That is one of the aspects of how to win
the
hearts of the Chinese community. The other way to win the hearts of the Chinese
community
and also general population in Sarawak especially the urban folks is a farer
economic
policies like what I have said open tenders, do not allow the cronies, inner
circles
of the political leaders of Barisan National to monopolize or control the bulk
of
our
economic resources.
The
third way to win the support of the Chinese community and the urban folks,
is
to have more efficient, transparent and clean government administration. Tuan
Speaker,
without a transparent government administration breeds corruption. When
developers
apply for sub division approval for sub division of their land to build houses
they
have to go through SPA approval. Some of the application sits in SPA office for
months
or even years before it was approved. This all adds on to the financial cost of
these
developers. At the end of the day it will be transferred to the house
purchasers.
Why
do we need to wait so long for just simple SPA approval? Why is there no time
frame
set, a guideline set down to fix the time where application is received and
approval
or a decision to be delivered? This will cut down a lot of red tapes, a lot of
time
wasted, a lot of financial cost and it will prevent corruption as well.
And the other way that you can win the hearts
of the urban people is by having a
fairer
land policy on land lease renewal. Tuan Speaker I like in this juncture to
raise the
issue
of land lease renewal in the town of Betong. In the town of Betong, there was a
policy
set by the state government whereby land situated within three kilometres
radius
of
Betong town. Their land leases would not be renewed upon expiry. It's a blanket
freezing
of renewal of land leases for land situated within three kilometres radius of
Betong
town. Tuan Speaker, why is such a policy set down by the government? We still
see
new shop houses being built by developers who are close to the power that be,
who
has
close relationship to the high political leaders of Barisan Nasional. New shop
houses
being built, i.e. land were alienated to these companies, but for the common
folks
when their land leases expired if their land is situated within three kilometres
of
Betong
town, their application for renewal of land leases would be rejected and had
been
rejected and Land and Survey are rejecting them also. These are policies that
does
not go down well with the people. And these are policies that gives the
government
a bad name.
Another
way is on having a fairer electricity tariff, fairer electricity policy,
lowering
the
tariff which I will elaborate later in my debate.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: So, Tuan Speaker, in order that Barisan Nasional wins
the
heart of the Chinese Community do not mete out threats about no Chinese
Minister
there
for Chinese will be sidelined. This threat doesn't work, this threat has been
metered
out by SUPP for decades, 30 years ago it may persuade the people to support
Barisan
Nasional, now you will only repeal the voters. As such, I hope I will not be
reading
such statement from the YAB the Chief Minister. Show us what you can do.
Show
us what Barisan Nasional government can do, through your policies to win the
heart
of the people, not by threats. In this essential I would like also to bring out
the
issue
on the banning of some of the members of Parliament from West Malaysia or
Pakatan
Rakyat from entering into Sarawak.
Tuan
Speaker, we in DAP, our stand is that we support the immigration autonomy
of
Sarawak. Anyone who attempt to take away that autonomy we will be the first one
to
object
to that. We are of the view that the immigration autonomy of Sarawak should not
be
tampered with should not be anyway undermined, but such autonomy should not
also
be abused. There are several personalities which I have, I know them
personally,
people
like Rafizi, people like Saifudin Nasution, I listen to their statements in
Parliament
and people like Theresa Kok, and I was informed that Tony Pua, saudara
Tony
Pua was also banned from Sarawak, I would like to seek confirmation whether
this
is true or not. Tony Pua has been well known throughout Malaysia for rising
issues
on
financial accountability of the Government, rising issues audit, the scandals
that's been exposed by the Auditor- General every year. Saifudin Nasution has
been
talking
about beras issue, BERNAS issue about how the government through BERNAS
has
exploited the people, and Rafizi we all know he is the person who exposed the
cow condo scandals.
These
are people who has contributed to our nation by exposing this financial
scandals,
and none of them in their speeches raise about racial issue, created racial
tension
and yet they are banned from entering Sarawak. I believe this is, this does not
confirmed
with the true practice of democracy our State immigration autonomy should
be
used to protect our State's interest not to be used to protect Barisan Nasional
political
interest. If Barisan Nasional is so afraid of these personalities coming into
Sarawak
exposing this financial scandals making people aware of this malpractice in
this
Government so much so that the Government of Sarawak has to abuse the
immigration
autonomy to ban these people from entering to Sarawak. I hope our new
Chief
Minister who is also trained lawyer who understand this rule of law this basic
rule
of
law and not abuse the immigration autonomy of Sarawak.
Tuan
Speaker, any Chief Minister who serve as Chief Minister who like to leave a
legacy
behind after they‟ve served the ten year of office and how would YAB our new
Chief
Minister like to leave his legacy behind, does he want to leave his legacy
behind
that
Sarawak is a State which practice clean good governance, fair practices, just
practices
and a Government that do not abuse the power and I urge YAB to look into
the
three points that I stated to reappraise the government policy of State of
Sarawak.
Point
number two, in this change of power, change of Chief Ministership, a new
meaning
has been created about the word Deputy.
All these while, we've
thought,
or I've thought that the word Deputy, the person holding the Deputy post would
step
into the shoe of the post that he deputised, but obviously our Deputy Chief
Minister
does
not step into the shoe of Chief Minister when the post is vacated …
(Interruption)
Tuan
Speaker: Ahli Yang Berhormat, I think it is specifically spelt out in the
constitution
that
the one enjoys the majority support, is there any question there?
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Yes. But what is the meaning of Deputy, Tuan
Speaker?
If you look at Oxford English Dictionary, the meaning of deputy, let me show
you.
"A person who is appointed to undertake the duties of a superior in the
superior's
absence."
Naturally he steps into the shoes.
Tuan
Speaker: The Chief Minister not absence. There is no absence.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Ya. But the fact is that, when he vacated his position,
it
is
only natural that the deputy steps in.
Tuan
Speaker: I think you move on.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: But in this case, that is the definition in the Oxford
English
Dictionary, not my definition.
Tuan
Speaker: Ahli Yang Berhormat for Kota Sentosa, I think you move on.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Now we can give Oxford. We can submit to Oxford
our
new definition ... (Interruption)
Tuan
Speaker: That is the business of another party. I think you move on ...
(Interruption)
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: That deputy post is created for window dressing ...
(Interruption)
Tuan
Speaker: Just move to a next point.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: And if he can't step into the shoe of the Chief Minister
ship
when the Chief Minister retires and he still remain a Deputy Chief
Minister...(Interruption)
Tuan
Speaker: I think you just move on.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: I think, it speaks loud and clear
about...(Interruption)
Tuan
Speaker: There is nothing in the constitution wishes that.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: The ability of the person...(Interruption)
Tuan
Speaker: No no no.
Y.B
Chong Chieng Jen: Then why do we need Deputy Chief Minister
post?...(Interruption)
Tuan
Speaker: That‟s in the dictionary only.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: When you can't even take charge when the Chief
Minister
retire.
Tuan
Speaker: You just move on, move on. Enough of that.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: I move now. Well Tuan Speaker, I think we have to reevaluate
the deputy post. Find someone who can, capable of taking charge if they are
absence
... (Interruption)
Tuan
Speaker: I think this also happened in DAP.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Okay I move on to point No.3 Tuan Speaker. Yes if I
am
not in, or I am not here, I retire suddenly, my Deputy Chairman will take
charge.
Tuan
Speaker: Ok. Order order. Just move on.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Okay I move. Tuan Speaker, point No.3 is
on...(Interruption)
Tuan
Speaker: Order order, please, Ahli-Ahli Yang Berhormat.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Honourable Members from Barisan Nasional who
interject...(Interruption)
Tuan
Speaker: Order order.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Don‟t disturb my speech. You are free to stand,
express
you wish to seek clarification. Don‟t sit there and shout.
Tuan
Speaker: Ok. Order order. You move on.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Tuan Speaker, look at that. Tuan Speaker, on point
No.3.
I‟ll move on to the point No.3 unless Honourable Member from Barisan Nasional
wish
to drag me back to point No. 2. On point No. 3, Tuan Speaker, we have embarked
on
the signature campaign. Inter alia to call for the reduction of electricity
tariff by 30
percent
for our domestic user, commercial user and industrial user. Tuan Speaker, we
started
the campaign in January, end of January, 28th of January until end of April. Our
initial
target was 100 thousand signatures to be collected. But within this period of
time,
we
have managed to collect 113 thousand signatures. That shows an overwhelming
support
and even up to today, they are people who wish to sign and participate in the
signature...(Interruption)
Tuan
Speaker: Are you taking?
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: And they continue, let me finish this sentence.
Continue
to submit their forms to us in our signature campaign. Yes, Honourable
Member
for Nangka wish to seek clarification..
Y.B.
Dr Annuar Bin Rapaee: Regarding your signature campaign, you claimed that
you
have gained 113,000 of signatures, may I know do you have independent auditor
to
account
the number of 113 knowing know that DAP during their own election could not
count
a simple arithmetic.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Tuan Speaker, if Honorable Member for Nangka wish
to
bury his head in the sand to the oblivious of the fact that there are so many
Sarawakians
who wish that the government can lower
the electricity tariff, so be it, we will
submit
this to the Honourable Chief Minister. We will submit the signature forms to
the
Yang
Amat Berhormat Chief Minister.
Tuan
Speaker: Do you give way to the Honorable Member for Semop?
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: There is how you practice. One person sign one
thousand
forms, that is how you do it is it? Otherwise why you accuses us doing that?
We
DAP have integrity, not like Barisan Nasional.
Tuan
Speaker: Honorable Member for Dudong, order, order, order, order. Honorable
Member
for Dudong, don‟t implicate anything about honesty or dishonesty against any
member.
Those two words should not be used here, okay. It‟s not the question about
that
thing, who is using the words. Okay. You giving way to Semop?
Y.B
Encik Abdullah Bin Haji Saidol: Yes, yes, just giving. Thank you Kota Sentosa.
My
question is very simple. In your course of acquiring the signatures, from one
coffee
shop
to another coffee shop anywhere around Kuching or Sibu, did you tell them, or
even
Serian, the Minister here said, did you tell them, this is my question, did you
tell
them,
this signature is require to obtain a campaign for to lower the tariff or did
you say
that
this is to lower the electric bill? That‟s the different because what I was
made to
understand
from those people who have signed the signature, they said, “Oh, dia
cakap,
ini signature untuk turun elektrik bil. Kalau elektrik bil, saya setujulah.
Saya
sign.”
That can be very deceiving you know, in tariff bill and tariff and
honesty...(interruption)
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Okay, okay. Assistant Minister thinks that your
question
not good enough, so he wants to add on.
Menteri
Muda Pembangunan Belia (Bandar) dan Menteri Muda Perumahan (Y.B.
Datuk
Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah): It‟s just Kota Sentosa, any human being
if
you asked this kind of question, would you like to have something for free, of
course
they
will love it. If you want to have your electricity bill lowered, of course they
would
like
to have it. This is something where you know the answer already, so even if you
want
to place it down there at the shopping complex I believe everybody will sign.
Not
because
they are supportive of DAP but they are all, they want to have the tariff
lowered.
But then this is something which is not very fair way to get the sentiment
because
they way I see it, this is not proper.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Tuan Speaker, Tuan Speaker, I agreed totally with
what
Honorable Assistant Minister Member for Asajaya was saying. You know, those
who
sign the form I did not say that, they support DAP but they support the
signature
campaign
which is to call for the lowering of the tariff. To answer Yang Berhormat for
Semop,
when we go to coffee shop how we tell them? We gave them this form, this
pamphlet
here behind is what our signature campaign is for. We just keep that. Some
of
them read it and signed it and they asked us, we said, signature campaign untuk
merayu
kepada kerajaan supaya turunkan harga elektrik and our pamphlet here is in
Bahasa,
Chinese and English. I think most Sarawakians will know. So like what
Honorable
Member for Asajaya has said, everybody wants it. Sure enough, so why is
not
the government? Why is the government refusing to lower the electricity tariff
for
Sarawakians?
Ya, sure.
Menteri
Muda Pembangunan Belia (Bandar) dan Menteri Muda Perumahan (Y.B.
Datuk
Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah): To electricity tariff, you just place down
there
or across the board I want to get your signature for lower of price for sugar,
lower
price
for fuel, lower for anything that you want to lower public surely love it. So
it not
just
electricity tariff, this is what I am trying to say. Human being they love to
get
something
lower so you just played it out on the board. Everything have to be lowered
we
are fighting on it. Public definitely will want to have it lowered. It
similarly would you
like
to have thing for free, of course everybody would say yes give me. If I can
apply for
BR1M
I would apply for BR1M, too because it‟s for free. It just that I cannot. You
see,
it‟s
something like that. So anything that is for free, anything that you want to
reduce of
course
everybody would love that, it would love that.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Ya, as if I did not get his point. I got your point
clear
and
loud. Loud and clear that you also support this signature campaign. Now the
question
is whether the government can afford it. That is the question. We want a
lower
tariff for Sarawakian. Yes, a lot of people wants it. Even Asajaya wants it. So
now
the question is whether we can afford it?
Tuan
Speaker, I think we have also stated in our pamphlet here behind where
there
sign. This is just part of it. This is just part of the signature form.
Everyone of
them
that we have collected, were 110,000 with I.C and signatures and names.
Whether
we can afford it. Tuan Speaker, there are three reasons.
Tuan
Speaker: The Honourable Member from Marudi stand. Do you give a way?
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Ya, okay.
Menteri
Muda Kemudahan Awam (Bekalan Air) dan Menteri Muda Menteri Muda Kemudahan Awam
(Bekalan Air) dan Menteri Muda Pertanian
(Pertubuhan
Peladang) (Y.B. Datuk Sylvester Entrie Anak Muran): Tuan Speaker,
the
signature campaign is very misleading indeed. Very misleading. It is a very
simple
campaign.
Now DAP is very proud that they had achieved 100,000 signatures. But it‟s
started
from January until now for four months ya, it‟s means that the people did not
succumb
to what the good sweet that were use by the DAP. Right? So it‟s nothing
proud
of that because you are misleading the people without considering what are the implications
and your pamphlet is very simple, very simple without telling the actual fact what
is going on. at were use by the DAP.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Our campaign is based on facts. Unlike what the
Assistant
Minister just now said. Just rhetoric, you‟re misleading the people without
substantiating.
Our campaign is based on fact. Can SESCO afford to lower electricity
tariff
by thirty percent (30%).
Tuan
Speaker, with the operations of Bakun Dam. Tuan Speaker, cost of
generation
of electricity for SESCO is reduced to 0.065 ringgit Malaysia. i.e 6.5 cent per
kilo
watt hour for electricity generated by Bakun Dam. There‟s how cheaply SESCO
purchase
electricity from Bakun Dam. 6.5 cent per kilo watt hour but SESCO is selling
to
us electricity at the tariff of 30 cent per kilo watt hour. That is four five
hundred
percent
profit margin. Of course I agreed that they are cost of transmission or cost of
distribution.
There are some lost of power along the way when the power is generated
in
Bakun Dam and transmitted to the end user. But Tuan Speaker, how costly can
they
lost
empower or cost on transmission and distribution? How costly can those cost be?
Tuan
Speaker, so that is why we are not asking SESCO to lower by 50% or 60%.
We
are just asking SESCO to lower the tariff by 30% based on the cost of
generation
and
secondly SESCO is selling electricity supply to Press Metal, Tokoyama and some
of
the small tin plant in Samalaju, the SCORE area, as low as 11 cent per unit of
electricity
but they are selling to local industrial list at the price 30 cent per unit which
is
double,
triple the price they sale electricity to this small tin plant. SESCO has been
giving
the excuse of bulk buying there is cheaper rate.
Tuan
Speaker, even bulk buying would be that cheap. Even bulk buying it will
mean
that SESCO can make money, can make profit at the price of 11 cent per unit.
They
can still generate profit at that price, 11 cent per unit otherwise the more
you sell
the
more loss will be. So with that benchmark what we are asking for is only
lowering
by
30%. 21 cent per kilo watt one hour not the present 30 cent per kilo watt per
hour for
the
local user. Is that too much to ask? Point number three, the third reason for
calling
on
SESCO to lower the electricity tariff by 30% is on the fact that SESCO is
making a
profit
of RM266.6 million in the financial year 2012. Financial year 2013 they have
not
published
the financial account. So I do not know. But based on 2012 financial report
RM266.6
million a year. Free tax profit and with such profit, Tuan Speaker, SESCO has
to
pay RM60 million in tax to the federal government.
Tuan
Speaker, SESCO is a public utility company. When a public utility company
make
such huge profit, it‟s mean that the common user are paying very highly. Higher
than
they should be paying and if you look at from perspective of Sarawak, we all
subscribe
to the idea of Sarawak for Sarawakians. The payment of RM60 million tax to
the
Federal government is an outflow of money from the general public of Sarawak to
the
Federal government. Can we lower the tariff? So that we don‟t have to pay so
much
tax.
Can we lower the tariff so that people will be paying for the cheaper
electricity tariff? This will bring benefit to everyone including Honourable
Member for Asajaya. So these are fact that we base on in our campaign to go for
reduction of tariff by 30%.
SESCO
and I think the Honourable Member, Assistant Minister for Public Utility has
come
out with statement saying that lowering tariff by 30% were under mind SESCO‟s
financial
ability. The result in many of the 4000 employees of SESCO losing their job.
Show
us the figure, convince me with figures to say that. Lowering by 30% were under
mind
the whole financial ability of SESCO. Don‟t just result to rhetoric.
Tuan
Speaker: Do you give way to Honourable Member from Nangka.
Y.B.
Dr Annuar Bin Rapaee: Thank you, Tuan Speaker. Lowering tariff of 30% has
been
spear head the campaign by the DAP and one of the most important we know that
lowering
of the tariff or lower electricity tariff one of the main reason is because of
hydro
electricity.
All this while DAP is asking for lowering of tariff, on the other hand, their
against
the government of developing hydro electricity. May I know where is they stand
now?
Developing hydro electricity or lowering tariff?
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Tuan Speaker, what we are against is the indiscrete
unnecessary
building of dams excessive building of dams. Tuan Speaker, our call for
lowering
of 30% tariff is based on the existing dam that we have, existing dam that have
already
been built. If you build some more dams, we go for lower, further lower of
tariffs.
Even we now with the existing dam that we have, we should enjoy a 30%
reduction
in the electricity tariff, so Honourable Member for Nangka, don‟t twist my
words.
I have given you submission opportunity to seek clarification.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Tuan Speaker, we have sacrificed our jungles, our
land,
our biodiversity resources also for building of Bakum Dam which is bigger than
the
size
of Singapore. Why can‟t local Sarawakians enjoy some benefit out of that? Out
of
the
sacrifice we suffer? That is the first thrust of our Signature Campaign
lowering tariff
by
30% and we back it up with figures and facts to support our calls and I will
invite
Honourable
Ministers to convince me otherwise if he has the facts but not to resolve to
rhetoric,
political rhetoric and scare tactics, scaring the people, the employees of
SESCO
and SCB.
Tuan
Speaker: Do you give way?
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Yes.
Menteri
Muda Kemudahan Awam (Bekalan Air) dan Menteri Muda Pertanian
(Pertubuhan
Peladang) (Y.B. Datuk Sylvester Entrie Anak Muran): You see DAP is
very
good, is very good in street demonstration. If you want to demand you go for
signature
campaign. If your signature campaign is not enough then you for street
demonstration.
That is how you want to demand you see. So what you are doing is
really
illogical and unreasonable at all. Okay. That‟s all.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: No wonder still remain an Assistant Minister only. I
invite
him to show me facts and figures, he give me further rhetoric. I will move on
to
the
second thrust of our signature campaign, that is to reduce power outages Tuan
Speaker,
in the last two or three years, SESCO is only focussing on mega projects ie.
dam,
building but has overlooked the general upgrading and maintenance of the
distribution
and transmission network. So much so that power outages is getting more
frequent
and yesterday, power outages happened in Padungan, Pending area, many
times
in a day. It is reported in the newspaper here. Hui Sing area also. The day
before
power outages happened in Miri and we are paying so much, RM4.5 million a
year
to engage a foreign CEO, a Norwegian CEO to look into this electricity supply
planning
for our State. The more he planned, the worst it become. So, therefore in our
Second
Thrust for our signature campaign, we also call on the government to ensure
that
SCB and SESCO, do carry out regular maintenance and upgrading of the
transmission
and distribution network so as to reduce power outages and I know for a
fact
SESCO try to justify outages by saying that there is no utility supplier, they
can
have
zero power outage. There is no city in the world that have zero outages. I am
not
asking for zero outages, zero power outage but just that the outages are
getting too
frequent
and getting more fluent.
The Third thrust of our signature campaign is
to terminate the employment of this
expatriate
who are sucking money from Sarawakian in general. This is particular the
CEO
of SESCO. He was engaged since November 2009. Up to now he has received
salary
cum allowances of up to RM20 million. All these, every single cents of this
RM20
million
come from the Sarawakian who pay electricity bill every month. And that is him
alone.
For this 4 ½ year, RM20 million total.
Tuan Speaker, nothing will justify paying such
high salary to this expatriate.
Initially
it was RM19 million. It has been reduced to RM6 million now. Under the direct
employment
of SCB and SESCO. It has been reduced to RM6 million because of the
pressure
by the opposition.
Tuan Speaker, however, although the number of
those expatriate directly
employed
under SCB has reduced, however, they go by the back door entering into
consultancy
contract with this Norwegian Company, an overseas company. And if you
go
to SESCO Headquarters now, you can see a lot of this expatriate sitting there,
claiming
money from SCB, under the pretext of giving consultancy work.
Tuan Speaker, I just have the benefit of
reading an article that is published by the
No
Consult Company. This No Consult Company, I read it or I said published by its
website,
is a large engineering firm in Norway. I quote “No Consult has announced its
newly
established subsidiary in Borneo, No Power Sdn Bhd, has signed several new
contracts
for hydropower project in Sarawak Energy. The Company has contract for
the
pre-engineering phase for the 1200 Mega Watt Baram Hydo Electricity projects
and
the
1300 Mega Watt Balleh Project as well as a feasibility study for the 600 Mega
Watt
Pelagus
Project and the completion management system for the 944 Mega Watt Murum
project.
This
company is a Norwegian Company, coincidently the CEO of SCB is also a
Norwegian.
Tuan Speaker, although SCB has claimed that it has reduced the
employment
of expatriate but on the other hand, behind the back door, by way of
backdoor
they are engaging more expatriate through all these consultancies and
services
and we Sarawakian are paying for that. It doesn‟t conform to the phrase of
Sarawak
for Sarawakian.
Tuan
Speaker: Do you give way?
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Pardon?
Tuan
Speaker: Do you give way to Ahli Yang Berhormat for Jemoreng?
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Yes, please.
Y.B.
Encik Abu Seman Bin Jahwie: Thank you Tuan Speaker. Just now Ahli Yang
Berhormat
for Kota Sentosa said since 2009, the CEO of SCB has received RM20
million.
I just want to know, or my colleague just want to know. How you get the figure
and
when do you get it. Is there any inside man telling you that this is the
figure? Thank
you.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Your Minister told me. He confirmed in the Dewan.
RM4
million a year, salary. So you times it. Do a simple mathematic calculation. It
comes
to RM20 million up to now. Your own Minister has confirmed that. So obviously
you
are not listening to the winding up speeches of your Ministers. That‟s why you
ask
question
like that.
So Tuan Speaker, I believe we have enough
talent in Sarawak. We have enough
talent
among Sarawakians to take charge of SCB and we don‟t need, we don‟t need
these
expatriates. We have Idris Jala for example. He can head the whole
transformation,
government transformation programme for Malaysia. They are others
equally
capable Sarawakians even those sitting behind the Ministers in this Dewan.
Many
of them will be capable and they will not be asking for a salary of RM 4
million a
year.
They just need One Tenth of the salary to run the job. So why are we paying so
much
and yet we need so many consultancies contracts. How much, I would to ask
also.
How much are we paying these consultant companies for all these consultancies
contract
for mega dams.
So, Tuan Speaker, this is so much for our
signature campaign calling on the
government
to implement a thorough electricity policy ie (i) to lower electricity tariff
by
30%
(ii) to regularly upgrade and maintain the transmission and distribution
network so
as
to reduce the power outages and (iii) to stop employing these expatriate at
sky-high
prices.
These are the Three Thrust of our signature campaign and I am glad we have
110,000
or 113,000 to be more exact people supporting it. I am not saying that all
these
113,000 signatories are supporting DAP but they are supporting the issues that we
brought and they are many more. Even when we announced that we have
concluded
our signature campaign, there are still forms coming in, they said “I want to
be
part of it.” To fight for a more fairer electricity policy and we could have
received
more
signatures but for the fear that amongst many civil servants. SESCO and SCB
employees
was openly supported it but they fear that they will prosecuted if they put
their
names and IC on the forms. But some do not fear that. I do not see any reason
for
government to prosecute them and I hope that government will not do so.
So to conclude on this point, I urge the Yang
Amat Berhormat Ketua Menteri to
seriously
consider the three thrust that we have been calling for and that 113,000
Sarawakians
have been asking for and many more out there who have not signed but
like
yet what Ahli Yang Berhormat for Asajaya has said “everyone wants that”. If
everyone
wants that, if the government can afford it, why not give it to them. It will
only
show
that Yang Amat Berhormat, the new Chief Minister is a person who cares for the
people.
In this time of Barang Naik (BN), Sarawak BN reduce the electricity tariff.
What
better
gift to the Sarawakians when the new Chief Minister coming to power?
Point
no. 4, Tuan Speaker, this is about our Impian Sarawak Projects, nowadays we
have been mentioned more by the Barisan Nasional members than by DAP and I
would like to comment on a quote by, on a saying by Yang Amat Berhormat Ketua
Menteri about the hen laying eggs. He has liken DAP carrying out the projects
and Barisan Nasional Government doing the projects. Liken these two to hen
laying eggs, saying that a sea turtle laying eggs, saying that DAP carry out projects
just like hen laying eggs. The whole kampung knows when they lay an egg but when
BN Government carry out projects, they are just like sea turtle laying eggs.
Many eggs but they keep quite. This is quite a very analogy of the whole thing.
Tuan
Speaker, Tuan Speaker, about this hen laying egg, sea turtlse laying eggs thing analogy, Tuan
Speaker, do you know how often a hen laying eggs, how regular a hen laying
eggs? According to Google search, a hen laying eggs 25 hours one time but do
you know how often a turtle laying eggs, very long, it is seasonal, it is
seasonal. Tuan Speaker, how regular a turtle laying eggs, it is seasonal, it
just like Barisan Nasional. They carry out project seasonal, when the election
comes then speed up the carry out of the project but DAP do this consistently,
every day of 25 hours one time, 25 hours one time, unlike BN, seasonal,
seasonal, seasonally laying eggs.
Tuan
Speaker: You give way.
Menteri
Muda Pembangunan Belia (Bandar) dan Menteri Muda Perumahan (Y.B.
Datuk
Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah): I think I am just trying to relay this,
because
this is something which is in kata-kata orang melayu, macam ayam kampung,
telur
sebiji riuh sekampung, biarlah kita macam penyu, bertelur 100 biji tetapi
senyap,
okay,
okay. Wait, wait, I am still continue, I am just trying to explain why the Chief
Minister
was saying that, it is not about how many hours the telur is, what he is trying
to
say
is that when you do one project, you blew sky high. Ini baru 11 projects, we
have
been
counting tapi the whole world tahu, where else we got thousands and thousands
of
projects, we are not been barking about it.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Tuan Speaker, an analogy has been drawn, an
analogy
has been drawn.
Tuan
Speaker: You give way to Nangka?
Y.B. Encik Chong Chieng Jen: No, no, no, it is
all right, I will answer to Ahli Yang
Berhormat
bagi Asajaya first. An analogy has been drawn about, is like hen laying eggs
and
Barisan Nasional doing projects are like penyu laying egg, and not only about
the
frequency
of laying eggs, the manner of laying eggs also very similar (laughter) for DAP.
We
are ... (Interruption) Barisan Nasional like penyu laying eggs, curi-curi
laying eggs,
very
secretive manner, once they lay eggs just like BN, .... (Interruption)
Tuan
Speaker: Order, order, I think enough, you have made your...move on move on.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: This is typical of Barisan Nasional when they, when
they
try to call the analogy, they laugh about it. When the full impact of the
analogy
came
hit them, they say all enough about it. .... (Inaudible)
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: It is an analogy, it is an analogy.
Let
me tell, let me tell member from Barisan Nasional.
Enough
of this laying eggs things. Enough of Barisan Nasional laying turtle eggs
things.
Tuan
Speaker: Ahli Yang Berhormat bagi Kota Sentosa, I think you should move on to
other
topic, move on to other topic.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Yea, move on, move on. Tuan Speaker, Tuan
Speaker,
I‟ll move our head from this egg laying things, egg laying business, I go on to
the
our IMPIAN Sarawak Projects. Tuan Speaker, yesterday amongst the question that
were
asked, I think from Opar, from Pantai Damai, they are complaining about their
kawasan
no electricity, no water, hopefully the Government can do it, nadai ai, nadai
api
bakani
ulih idup, parai aku.... (Laughter) Therefore when we are going to the
Kampungs,
they told us enggai undi Barisan Nasional agik, enggai, enggai.. (Laughter)
So,
Tuan Speaker, after 50 years we still have so many kampungs and we still
Honourable
Members raising issues of nadai ai, nadai api in this Dewan Undangan
Negeri.
It is just got to show how slow this penyu is laying eggs... (laughter). That
is
why
I say, seasonal. Once election come, speed up some the eggs laying process and
then
after that we have to wait for another election. We have gone to some of the
kampungs.
I will just give you some of the things that we have met in Rumah Grik anak
Tom
in Betong. The longhouse was just about 200 meters from the main JKR‟s pipe.
They
have been asking for the JKR to connect the pipe to their longhouse. They have
waited
for twenty years no response. When our IMPIAN Sarawak Team went to the
longhouse
and tell them ok, if the Government doesn‟t do it, we do it for you. And we,
our
IMPIAN Sarawak Team going visiting to this Rumah Grik anak Tom went to the
D.O.
Within a week fund was allocated, JKR Officer went to connect the pipes from
the
main
pipe to each and every household in the longhouse. They do not even need to
pay
the water meter connection fees. Why? How can this happen? A project that can
be
carried out within a week but they have to wait for twenty years, the penyu
didn‟t
come.
It was not the egg laying season for the penyu.
And
another kampung Jalan Pa‟as, Kampung Sikuk in Bengoh I believe Tuan
Speaker
is aware of this place. There is earth road to twelve houses in the kampung is
so
muddy that the owners of this twelve houses, they have to park their cars a few
hundred
meters away from their house and walk on foot to their individual respective
houses.
And they have applied to the elected representative of their kawasan for six to
seven
years, NO response. And our IMPIAN Sarawak Team came to that kampung
and
I say that ok, if the Government doesn‟t do it, we do it for you and next
minute you
know
the elected representative allocate the fund buy the gravels, buy the pebbles
and
lay
a gravel road up to everyone of the twelve houses, up to the doorstep of
everyone of
this
twelve houses. And the other gravity feed water system like Kampung Said Mok
Ayong
Bengoh, Ulu Wap Pakan, Kuala Sigu Bintulu, Ruang Ring Rantau Kuala
Limbang,
those are, that projects we have done for the kampung people and Tuan
Speaker,
I know these projects if compare to the might, to the wealth that Barisan
Nasional
can command being the Government is nothing, is peanuts but these are
money
that we have raised from donation from public to carry out this project to
improve
the
living environment of the people, of Sarawak and a lot of this fund come from
our
West
Malaysian friends.
Tuan
Speaker, the true impact of IMPIAN Sarawak is not about doing this project
only
it is about giving hope to the people. If DAP as an opposition can carry out
this
project,
what more to say if we become the Government. They don‟t need to wait so
long,
wait for the season to come wait for the penyu to lay eggs.
Menteri
Muda Pembangunan Belia (Bandar) dan Menteri Muda Perumahan (Y.B.
Datuk
Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah): Tuan Speaker, how many of IMPIAN
Sarawak
project that DAP has already implemented so far? I would like to invite you to
do
one in Asajaya.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: We have completed out for this seven to eight
months,
we have completed about seven to twelve projects. And I will be most willing to
do
a project in Asajaya but Honourable Member for Asajaya, please be aware that
the
implication
of us doing a project in a kawasan of the Assistant Minister at the end of the
day
you say, you are trying to play politics again‟.
Menteri
Muda Pembangunan Belia (Bandar) dan Menteri Muda Perumahan (Y.B.
Datuk
Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah): Why I am inviting you to Asajaya
because
I noticed this seven projects are, when you are to implement it, you are quite
selective.
Selective in a way that you only identify areas where you feel like you are
going
to contest of you feel like you are going, you have got a little bit of chance
to
contest.
Isn‟t it? That is why I ask you whether you would want to implement it in
Asajaya
or else I will be most willing to bring you over, tell you this is the kampung
I
would
want to see you implement the thing. I will give you the support there. Okay.
Because
one thing I know you will say it is just a waste of time for us because there
is
no
way you can win in Asajaya or no way you are going to put a candidate down
there.
Presently
you are being selective, you just choose and pick areas where you feel there
is
a little bit of chance for you to go in. That is the area you are going
...(interruption)
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Tuan Speaker, yea, we have against since history
being
made in this house today and Assistant Minister asking for project from the
opposition
... (laughter). Normally it is the backbenches or the opposition asking the
Assistant
Minister for implementation of project. Now, today we see the reverse.
Assistant
Minister asking the opposition to carry out project in his kawasan. I don‟t
mind,
I don‟t mind. Honourable Assistant Minister, we can do it, don‟t worry. But of
course
we have to be selective in our projects but for you, I promise you within our
means
ten to twenty thousand, no problem. We will do it for you. Of course we are
selective
because we are accountable to the donors, we have to be accounted and we
have
limited resources.
Tuan Speaker, I urge the Honourable Member
from Barisan National not to be so
fearful
of this IMPIAN Sarawak projects.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: If you are not fearful then you don‟t have to, there
will
not
be increased in the attack as smearing of this Impian Sarawak project. You are
paranoid.
Well we are doing our part, you have the full weight of the government
machineries,
the tax payers money to carry out projects at your wimp and fancy. So
why
if you are not fearful about Impian Sarawak project. Why are you trying to
tarnish,
smear
this project? Smear the good name of Impian Sarawak. Well I will talk to
Honourable
Member for Asajaya on his Asajaya project. You are not questioning me. I
read
statement made by Members for Barisan Nasional. Very vicious, very paranoid.
You
just expose your fear that DAP is moving into the rural area.
Menteri
Muda di Pejabat Ketua Menteri (Promosi Pendidikan Teknikal) dan
Menteri
Muda Alam Sekitar (Y.B. Datu Haji Len Talif Salleh): Can you be more
specific
on who give that vicious statement on that particular thing? Thank you.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: One of them is Honourable Member for Bengoh. You
don‟t
get ... (interruption). I gave you already the name. You can ask the Honourable
Member
for Bengoh about the statement that he has made. It is in the papers, it is in
the
papers.
If you do not read the newspaper, I cannot help you. Then, I cannot help you.
As
an Assistant Minister you do not read newspaper? What do you read? What do you
read?
Read bank accounts statement? It is not the newspaper from me. It is Sarawak
Tribune,
it is Borneo Post. You got to check with the Honourable Member for Bengoh.
Tuan
Speaker, can I ask him to sit down? Can I ask him to sit? I give you, I will be
finishing
soon. I have given you the specific. I have given you the name of the maker of
that
statement and that is one of them only. You go and read.
If you do not read, you expect me to spoon
feed you about which newspaper to read, on what day. I am not your tutor. I am
not your babysitter as well. (Laughter). So Tuan Speaker, on another minor
point is a short point
...
(interruption)
Tuan
Speaker: Do you give way?
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: No, I do not give way to him. I do not give way to
people
who do not read newspaper. (Laughter). Tuan Speaker, Okay, 5 minutes.
Tuan
Speaker, this is about your kawasan, about your kawasan. I have received
complaints
from resident in 27th Mile that they have been out of water supply for the last
three
weeks and that the reason given by the Government is that the JKR water pump
has
broken down. I think, I think, that, that ... (interruption)
Tuan
Speaker: If you are asking me, I am telling you that it is all in order now.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Ah?
Tuan
Speaker: It is all in order now.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Ah? It is all in order?
Tuan
Speaker: The supply is on. Yes.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: That is good, that is good. But, you should not be
waiting
for three weeks to repair a water pump.
Tuan
Speaker: It is not. You cannot just say three weeks.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: It is more than three weeks?
Tuan
Speaker: The Honourable Member, for that area is only three days due to some
break
down. So, do not say three weeks.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: No lah. I think the Honourable Member for Pending
can
pledge for that. I have received a complaint about last week.
Tuan
Speaker: Okay, okay.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Last week, I have received the complaint.
Tuan
Speaker: Okay, okay. Why not now?
Y.B. Encik Chong Chieng Jen: So, Tuan Speaker,
can I, can I move... Can I...can I go
on
to the last point? Last point.... If you are hungry, you go off first la, you
go eat first la.
(Laughter)
If you are hungry, you go eat first. The Hansard recorder will record it. If
you
hungry
you go eat first la. We have to do our job here. (Laughter). Tuan Speaker this
is
about...
Tuan
Speaker: Let him finishes it, let him finish it. Go on.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: Hah?
Tuan
Speaker: Move on, move on.
Y.B.
Encik Chong Chieng Jen: This is about .... (interruption) Ya, this is about a
request
by a group for part time students who are supposed to have, to be eligible to
receive
some Baitulmal Assistance Fund. There are the category of Asnaf
Fisabilillah....(Interruption)
Let
me elaborate. It is the assistance fund to be given to students to pursue their
study
but according to the request that I have received a complaint that I received,
the
fund
do not assist those who are working or studying part time. But there are some
students
who are force to work part time or full time to help out with the family
financial
obligation
while they can only have time for part time study. I hope that the government
will
consider this group of students who those study part time and doing their work
part
time
to allow them to have the assistance fund from the Baitulmal. So that this is
after
all
Baitulmal has a lot of fund and has even enough fund to build large building.
Why
not
give some assistance to this students who are studying part time. With those
remarks
I will conclude my debate. Thank you Tuan Speaker.
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