Dewan Diary - Day 3

By Y.B. Wong Ho Leng, ADUN for Bukit Assek

Voon’s question on 20 Points Agreement for the formation of Malaysia was listed to be answered first. It was rare privilege. DCM Jabu was the main star from the BN bench this morning. He answered the questions raised by Voon and the Opposition members with political overtures. It was always BN this and BN that. He had an obsession on BN and to bring it into the answering session is dubious.

Hitting hard into the tummy, Jabu said that Sarawak did not submit the 20 Points!

His way of answering questions from the Opposition showed that he has become a cranky man. Before answering Chin Sing’s question, he praised Chin Sing for his moderation, “an exception” in the Opposition, he said. What a divide and rule tactics. Luckily, Chin Sing is not one easily pampered. He can see through Jabu.

At the end a rather eventless QA session, Dominique rose to demand Jabu to honour his promise to supply written answer to his question on CMS. The Speaker said he would not be able to direct Jabu and other Ministries. It is entirely up to the Ministers, he said. Jabu stood to retort but the fact remains that the written reply had not been given to Dominique despite his promise in the Dewan 6 months ago. How can these people feel that they are honourable when a simple promise could not be honoured? An altercation broke out between Dominique and Jabu. Jabu waved his magic wand, “I won’t run away” etc. Who bothered whether he is running away or not.

I then rose to state that there was a typo error in the Hansard. In answering to Saribas on the issue of land premium, I was actually saying in a rising tone that “25% to 40% land premium is not heavy premium?” But the Hansard recorded the obvious “?” with a “.”. The meaning is entirely different, especially when I had all along stated my and my Party’s stance that the land lease should be unconditionally extended for 99 years without having to pay premium. However, the BN made noise and the Speaker asked me to fill in the form. Obviously, my intention was to state on record my stance and not wish the unedited Hansard to be used to distort me or the DAP in the future. The BN/SUPP is full of tricks. A lot of dishonest acts could be conjured by them.

I was also about to state something else, ie, there is no water for the public and reporters at the front of the Dewan, unlike before, but I was disallowed even to begin, with an enraged Speaker (by Dominique) wanting to proceed to the debate on the Budget.

I have been observing SUPP’s Lee Kim Shin for the past 3 days. He has become very quiet. Why has this vocal chap been muted? Maybe the SUPP internal bickering has taken a toll?

Because of cough, I had to leave the Dewan early. It is better to get some medicine and then gear up for the budget speech.

Chong delivered another good speech today, touching on the nerve of those who hold power. There were only very occasional interjections in his one hour speech.

In reply to Jepak who accused the Opposition of making noise only, Chong said DAP do not take rubbish thrown by the administration, unlike the BN.

When Chong was speaking on inflation, smart alec Larry asked Chong to justify that inflation was not 2%. The figure is manipulated, Chong yelled. A rich kid won’t understand the burden of the people. Go to coffee shop and ask, he checkmated the young Assistant Minister.

Why should people have to pay so much connection charges to SESCO, now a private company?

Chong also spoke on the nerve spot of the Government investment arm – 1st Silicon. Without even hearing anything yet, the Speaker wanted to stop him, saying much has been delved on it in the previous sitting. No, said Chong, he had further information, and proceeded. Massive debts to the tune of RM3,152,725,672 had been transferred to the X-Fab Silicon Sarawak Sdn Bhd, a state owned company. Every single sen comes from the state coffer. Has the administration told us about this? BN did not bother to ask. Yet, these expenditures appeared in our Budget under item Government’s contributions toward approved agencies’ trust fund. No beneficiary was ever mentioned, just investment in high tech industry. There was absolute silence in the Dewan, despite Chong’s strong words that they all sit there and took all these from the administration.

Calling it the prodigal son of Sarawak, Chong said RM1,719,083,100 was used to bail out 1st Silicon. The Accounts showed that since its inception the accumulated loss of 1st Silicon was RM2.5 billion. Chong suggested for a white paper to be presented on 1st Silicon - why 1st Silicon lost so much? Who was responsible?

Chong went into the Auditor General’s Report. The Administration takes great pride that the Auditor-General gave Sarawak a clean bill of health. But what would happen to certain scandals and malpractices that are highlighted in the Report?

Chong said of Trienekens, the privatized project of waste disposal in Kuching. He asked how much has the Government to pay for collection of rubbish in Kuching? How much MBKS has to pay before privatization and after. Chong said he never got the answer. The Administration just beat around the bush. The truth will come out and it was exposed in the Auditor General’s Report.

Chong said MBKS paid Trinekens RM4.8m per year before privatization exercise. After privatization, in 2001 MBKS paid Trinekens RM8.38m. 2002 (10.17m), 2003 (RM11.02m), 2004 (RM10.52m), 2005 (RM9.99m), 2006 (10.5m).

MBKS had an analysis which showed that before privatization exercise, MBKS paid Trienekens RM6.02m, yet with their knowledge, state Government continues with the privatization exercise. Not right, Chong said.

On top of that, MBKS continued to employ 39 workers to sweep the floors and collect garden waste because all these were not provided in the concessionaire agreement with Trienekens.

The Auditor-General’s Report said that the exercise failed totally to achieve the goal of saving costs to Government. Is the state Government going to turn a blind eye to shortcomings that were pointed out?

Chong proceeded to go to another area highlighted in the Audited-General’s report. In 2000, a contract to build 384 bridges had been given to Titanium Management Sdn Bhd for RM551.02m. The contract was awarded without tender. One stroke of a pen, Chong said, though at the time of the award, the company was less than 2 years old; It being formed in 8.10.1998.

After a few years of implementing, there was a cost overrun by 76%. Only 322 bridges were built as opposed to 384. Titanium claimed RM947.84m. The Government agreed to pay. The Auditor-General made comparative study between 2 similar bridges, one by direct negotiation, and another by open tender. As Chong went through the figures, the BN listened in absolute silence. It was of course, less costly by open tender.

Why did the Government award the contract in this manner, to one company? Because of this cost-overrun, the Government could not come out with the money in time to pay Titanium. The Government as at Dec 2006, owes Titanium approximately RM240m. Under the contract, our state Government has to pay interest calculated at 3.8% per month on the debt. Soon Koh was laughing at what was said. Chong said that rate was loan shark rate. Soon Koh stood to say that Chong’s reading of the Report was wrong. But like all ADUNs, I am eager to seek the truth. I hope Soon Koh would be very enlightening.

Chong said the state Government said the bridges were awarded to Titanium based on track record. What track record has Titanium got? Chong asked whether the only record was because the majority shareholder of Titanium was the Chief Minister’s son? Also, he said, all the bridges were built by Sub-Contractors. Something is very wrong.

The Minister should offer a truthful explanation. Jabu said he would, and insisted that all Opposition members be present to hear his explanation. He can be assured that the DAP will turn up in full force to hear him.

Chong spoke on the land title that was supposed to be issued to Chung Hua Primary No.2. There had been no progress for the last 6 months. He urged the SUPP not to play another political stunt or stage another popularity show to give the land title during election time. “Do not let the students wait until election time. If you want to claim the credit, you can have the credit”, he said. He then told the story about the land. Initially when the committee of management of the school applied for the land plot, they were informed by the SUPP leaders that this land is for national school, not for Chinese schools. It was after Chong continuously wrote to Lands and Surveys for another parcel that he was informed that this land was designed for this school. Chong said he exposed the matter. Then came SUPP leaders and they said they are applying, and at the same time asked Chong not to meddle.

“Since last sitting, I have been waiting. No good news. Don’t use it as a campaign gimmick to lure the Chinese community to support SUPP. Education of our children is involved. This is not a matter that any political Party should hold Chinese community to ransom or use as a bait to lure them to support SUPP”, Chong said.

Tea break came and we saw Soon Koh and Jabu talking about the issues. I led all my charges (except Chong) to see the DUN Secretary. We saw that unlike the previous sessions, there was no water for anybody at the front of the Dewan. This inconvenienced reporters, members of the public as well as ADUNs, I said. The Secretary promised that there would be a water dispenser there tomorrow.

Andy Chia had a short speech, but when I tried to seek for clarification of a few issues that he raised, he categorically showed no guts to take me on. He went to attack the Opposition. His issue on the position of adopted children in Sarawak would be one that I would be addressing. He asked the State Government to consider amending the Adoption Ordinance.

Andy Chia said fuel subsidies amounts to RM40 billion a year. 2/3 of income collected are used to subsidize fuel, he said. I don’t know whether his figures are correct but he said had there been no subsidy, the money could be spent on schools etc. Who enjoy subsidies? He answered that they are the owners of big cars. Those poor and those who do not own cars do not enjoy the subsidies. He said the Government needs to address this unfairness. He agreed with the PM’s proposal for a new system of subsidy. Let’s see how that system will be implemented.

Andy rained a charade of praise to the BN Government, as did 2 PBB members after him. Chong and I decided to move off at 6. The meeting continued.

Voon was the last to speak today, Chin Sing was with him in there.

A line of dignitaries lined up the main entrance to Hilton Kuching. The Housing Ministry had a function, and its Minister Abang Jo and Assistant Minister Dr Soon had packed themselves at the front entrance waiting, obviously, for the arrival of the CM. As I shook hands with the Ministers and the office bearers of the Housing Developers’ Association, I told them that the Housing Ministry is the best of all the Ministries. “You can quote me”, I told Abang Jo. In jest, I also said that the Housing Minister is also a good man. His Assistant too. “Quote me”, I said. As a matter of fact, comparatively, the Housing Ministry is the better one, least complained so far. But, I reminded Abang Jo to look into the Schedule of Payment in the prescribed form under the Housing Developers’ law of Sarawak. “The Schedule is not too good, and you had promised me and Chong to look into it”, I reminded Abang Jo. They would have their dinner, and I would write this diary.

I need to re-charge my battery, and another session will begin tomorrow. I hope to bid bye bye to my cough tomorrow. If not, I have to postpone my speech by another day.