THE BUDGET BLACK HOLE OF SARAWAK GOVERNMENT

DAP asks: Where has our RM11 billion gone?

Since 2006, a secretive item titled ‘Government Contribution towards approved Agencies Trust Fund’ has appeared in the annual Sarawak Government’s budgets.

Approximately 50% of the annual state development expenditure is allocated to this trust fund.

In the year 2006, RM520,000,000 out of total development expenditure of RM1,969,822.400 was allocated to the trust fund;  in  2007 RM1,257,000,000 out of RM2,294,174,000 was allocated; in 2008, the amount was RM1,719,083,100 out of RM2,864,929,300, and in 2009, it was RM1,825,061,000 out of  total development expenditure of RM3,075,368,900, and for 2010, the amount allocated was RM1,072,409,800 out of RM2,776,681,600.

For the 2011 state budget, the amount allocated was RM1,416,475,000 out of the total development expenditure of RM3,630,305,950, and in the year 2012, the allocation shot up to RM1,709,463,00 out of RM3,262,759,580 of development expenditure.

And this year the state government has allocated RM1, 853,687,500 out of RM3, 407,339,183 of the state development expenditure.

The total amount allocated to the fund is RM11, 373,179,400 out of RM23, 281,380,913 of total development expenditure for the eight years of state budgets.

Despite the large amount allocated, Taib (State Finance Minister) has refused to disclose who are these so-called ‘agencies’ receiving the ‘contributions’ from the government.

All we were told is that the ‘approved agencies’ are body corporate, companies or organisations which have been approved in writing by the Chief Minister to promote the economic, social or educational advancement of the state.

It can be private companies or cronies or family companies who have received such fund. To many BN politicians, advancement of family business is often equated to ‘economic advancement of the state’. That is why hundreds of acres of State land have been alienated to the crony companies at as low as 10% of the prevailing market prices.

Why is the State Government refusing to disclose the identities of those who have received the funds?

Sarawakians have lost RM10 billion to this State budget ‘black hole’ over the last seven years and another RM1.8 billion this year.

Had this RM10 billion not gone into this black hole, the RM10 billion could be used to:

• -          Upgrade Pan Borneo Highway to four-lane for the whole of Sarawak;
• -          Provide 10,000 full overseas medical scholarships;
• -          Build 100,000 of units median-cost houses, easing the financial burden of the people;
• -          Give RM3,700 to every Sarawakian;
• -          Build 20 equivalents of Sarawak General Hospital;
• -          Pay 20 years of salaries for all Sarawak state civil servants ; or
• -          Build 2,000 A-grade schools……

(Note: These details are in the DAP flyer and will be distributed to voters in order to raise their awareness on the blunders made by the state government. More of such flyers will be distributed from time to time as part of its campaign strategy).

PR leaders sign Kuching Declaration

September 16, 2012

KUCHING:  The leaders of Pakatan Rakyat signed the ‘Kuching Declaration’ in conjunction with Malaysia Day celebration to pledge and promise to the nation and the people of Malaysia that when they form the next government of Malaysia they will honour all its pledges and promises.

The de facto leader of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)  Anwar Ibrahim signed on behalf of his party, while Lim Kit Siang, DAP National adviser signed on behalf of DAP and  Haji Abdul Hadi Awang, PAS President signed on behalf of PAS.

Also affixing their signatures on the declaration were also state leaders.  Sarawak PKR Chief Baru Bian signed on behalf of PKR, while Wong Ho Leng, Sarawak DAP Chairman signed on behalf of DAP and Haji Adam Ahid, PAS Commissioner on behalf of his party.

The Declaration reads: “Lest we forget, and lest all the peoples of our great Nation of Malaysia forget, we the undersigned do once again firmly, resolutely and unequivocally pledge and promise before the whole Nation of Malaysia as our witness, on this historically day the 16^th of September, 2012, in the City of Kuching, and on behalf of our respective parties and Pakatan Rakyat will honour all its pledges and promises to the peoples of Malaysia.

“We will honourably execute all the policies set forth in the Buku Jingga so that Malaysia will once again be a great Nation, her peoples prosperous, her future secure and peaceful, and her name celebrated by all the nations of the world.

“We will honour the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement of 1963 which our founding fathers put their hands to, and as a sign of our deep commitment to the peoples of Sarawak and Sabah, consistent with democratic principles and justice for all Malaysians, in particular:

ARTICLE ONE: EQUAL PARTNERS

“We will restore the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement and the position of Sarawak and Sabah as equal partners within Malaysia by restoring autonomy to Sarawak and Sabah within the framework of the Federal Constitution.

ARTICLE TWO: FAIR REPRESENTATION

“We will increase national integration between Sarawak, Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia through a fair power-sharing arrangement that fully upholds the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement.

ARTICLE THREE: CITIZENSHIP

“We will set up a Royal Commission to solve the perennial national problem of illegal immigration and citizenship, particularly in Sarawak and Sabah.

ARTICLE FOUR: RESTORATION OF NATIVE CUSTOMARY RIGHTS OVER LAND

“We will endorse the authority already vested in the State Laws of Sarawak and Sabah to set up Land Commissions to investigate, resolve disputes, redress, survey and restore Native Customary Rights over Native Customary Lands.

ARTICLE FIVE: COMPETENT SARAWAK AND SABAH

“We will endorse the appointment of Sarawak and Sabah citizens to head Government Departments in their own respective States and by the powers vested in the State Secretaries of both States as well as give first priority to the appointment of Sarawak and Sabah citizens at Federal Government level functioning within Sarawak and Sabah.

ARTICLE SIX: OIL JUSTICE

“We will raise the royalties paid on petroleum and hydrocarbon resources to Sarawak and Sabah to 20% from the present 5%.

ARTICLE SEVEN: EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT

“We will bring the level of infrastructure development in Sarawak and Sabah up to par with Peninsular Malaysia.

“We, the undersigned, make this declaration as an incontrovertible contract between the Pakatan Rakyat and the peoples of Malaysia, this historic day of 16^th September, 2012 on Malaysia Day, so that it may ring out resoundingly from Malaysia’s high forest hills down to the open sea; so that freedom may ever reign; and our peoples live in unity!” 

DAP Malaysia Day Message

DAP Malaysia Day Message By DAP Secretary-General And Member Of Parliament For Bagan Lim Guan Eng In Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu On 15.9.2012.

Reclaiming Sabah And Sarawak’s Status In The Federal Constitution As Equal Partners With Peninsular Malaysia With Emphasis On 5 Critical Areas Of Political And Socio-Economic Development.

On 16.9.1963, both Sabah and Sarawak joined Peninsular Malaysia as equal partners to form Malaysia under the Federal Constitution. 49 years later, Sabah and Sarawak has emerged as unequal partners as compared with Peninsular Malaysia. This has caused widespread resentment and even disillusionment that Sabahans and Sarawakians have gone backwards and lost out in almost every aspect as compared to Peninsular Malaysia.

Despite huge natural resources, Sabah remains the poorest state in Malaysia and both states’ roads and infrastructure are nothing compared to Peninsular Malaysia. If PR wins power, PR will reclaim Sabah and Sarawak’s status in the Federal Constitution as equal partners with Peninsular Malaysia with emphasis on 6 critIcal areas of political and socio-economic development.

The choice for Sabah is clear whether they wish to remain as the poorest state in Malaysia or change and aspire to be the richest state in Malaysia with these 6 fundamental changes.

1.  Equitable share of oil and natural gas by increasing from 5% to 20% to resolve long-standing problems relating to economy, education and poverty eradication;

2.      Improve the disgraceful state of road infrastructure as well as upgrade existing ports and airports.

3.      Ensure adequate and uninterrupted supply of water and electricity. Install free wifi in public places to provide internet access and connectivity for all.

4.    Establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry to take action against those responsible and resolve the crisis of illegal citizens;

5.      Appoint wherever possible Sabahans for the government positions in Federal and state departments; and

6.    A people-centric land policy by ensuring that those holding public political posts are not qualified to apply for state land; no removal or degradation of 999 year land titles to 99 years; and automatic renewal of land leases upon expiry with payment of only 10% of land premium(90% discount).

Land grabs: More natives take law into their hands

KUCHING:    Sarawak DAP today warned that more and more frustrated landowners taking the law into their hands as the state government continued to take advantage of the law to take away native customary rights land from the natives.

“The clear example was an incident in Simunjan on March 13, 2012 when several machineries belonging to Tabong Haji were burnt down allegedly by angry native landowners,” said DAP Secretary Chong Chieng Jen.

“I think the administration of NCR land by the state government is appalling on the way it is dishing out land and giving it to crony companies of state assemblymen resulting in a lot of dissatisfaction and frustration.

“The government is using the law and amending it to its advantage and taking advantage over the native landowners.

“That is why nowadays there are demonstrations against the government in respect of their NCR land,” said Chong, who is the Kota Sentosa and MP for Bandar Kuching.

He said that there are more than 200 NCR land cases in court whereby the landowners are seeking claims on their NCR land, pointing out that going to court is not the way to solve the problem.

“The only way to solve the problem is to change the policy; otherwise we are seeing more and more frustrated landowners taking the law in their own hands.

“The clear example is the Simunjan case where by some machineries of Tabong Haji were burnt a few days ago,” he added, saying that the government was trying to cover up the incident and all the main stream media did not report it.

“I think this is not the way to solve the problems, because at the end of the day more conflicts and more unhappy incidents and even violence will happen. This is something we do not wish to see,” he said.

Chong was commenting on the failure of 65 landowners from Balai Ringin who wished to see the Director of Lands and Surveys at the Land and Survey Headquarters on Friday morning to find out the status their complaints.

Two months ago the same landowners met with the officers of Lands and Surveys regarding their land which they claimed was leased to companies without their knowledge.

“Today the same group came down to find out the status of the investigation when they received no response from the department.

“What happened is that we were stopped by the guards and were not allowed to enter the Land and Survey headquarters even when it was raining heavily.

“We were all drenched outside.  And after waiting for more than three hours, we had no choice but to burst into the building. And only then a legal officer of the department came to see me and a few of the landowners,” said Chong.

He said that the director was not in and advised the landowners to write in making an appointment in one month’s time.

“I told him that one month is too long and the landowners will come back in two weeks’ time. They will campaign near the Land and Survey Headquarters until the director comes to see them,” he said.

During the meeting, Chong urged the officer to ask his department to issue a stop order against the companies from carrying out works in the affected NCR land.

The officer promised to look into it.

In January, some 50 landowners led by Augustine Bagat met with officials of the Lands and Surveys at its headquarters in Kuching urging the department to withdrawal the provisional leases on their land awarded to a number of companies having close links with the state government leaders.

One of the companies is allegedly owned by the former Kedup assemblyman, Frederick Bayoi Manggie.

His company is said to have been awarded 5,500 acres of land, the bulk of it is NCR land.

Destiny of Sarawak be determined by Sarawakians

Sarawak DAP wants 20,180 postal voters in Sarawak who are mostly security personnel from Peninsular Malaysia to be barred from voting and deciding the future destiny of Sarawak.

“A fair election system should ensure that the fate of a country be determined by her own people.

“Similarly, the future destiny of Sarawak should be determined by those who are intimately connected to Sarawak and not by those who come from outside Sarawak state,” said State DAP Chairman Wong Ho Leng.

This is one of the recommendations submitted by DAP to the Parliamentary Select Committee which met in Kuching last week to seek views of various people including political parties with regard to electoral reform to be introduced by the government before the next general election.

Wong, who is the MP for Sibu said: “According to Parliament answer, as at 30^th June 2011, there are 20,180 postal voters in Sarawak.

“We believe that the bulk of these are from the armed forces and police, and most of them are stationed in P.195 Bandar Kuching (2,142), P.196 Stampin (4,147), P.197 Kota Samarahan (4,259), P.212 Sibu (3,468) and P.219 Miri (1,359).

“Much that there is nothing in the Constitution to prohibit security personnel and police from Peninsula Malaysia who are posted to Sarawak to vote in Sarawak, DAP Sarawak feels that it ought to be a public policy that only those who have genuine connection with Sarawak be permitted to vote in Sarawak, whether Parliament or state elections.

“Connections can be by marriage and not by short term posting to Sarawak. These security personnel and police should vote by post in elections of their own state of origin,” he suggested.

On  fair Representation by Sarawak/Sabah, Wong said that in accordance with the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement, 34% of parliamentary seats must be from Sarawak and Sabah but it has now been reduced to a mere 25%.

The voters of Sarawak and Sabah have thereby lost their rightful and proportionate representation in Parliament, he said.

“Instead of enhancing the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement, the present representation in the lower house of Parliament is skewed in favour of Peninsula Malaysia. This is because the Election Commission had re-delineated constituencies which reduced the representation by Sarawak and Sabah in Parliament.

“Before Sarawak and Sabah joined to form the Federation of Malaysia, it was clearly and carefully stated in the Cobbold Commission Report and the Malaysia Agreement that the number of parliamentary seats in Peninsula Malaysia must not be more than 2/3 of the total parliamentary seats.

“This is in order to ensure that Parliament shall not be able to amend the Constitution willy-nilly. In so doing, the special rights and safeguards of the Borneo states are protected.

“Any amendment thereof would require the support from the Borneo states. During those days, of the 155 Parliamentary seats, Peninsula Malaysia was allocated 104 seats, Singapore 15 seats, Sabah 16 seats and Sarawak 20 seats.

“Peninsula Malaysia had therefore 67% of the parliamentary seats. However, after re-delineation in 1974, Peninsula Malaysia had an additional 10 seats, while there was no increment for Sarawak and Sabah. With the withdrawal of Singapore from the Federation, Peninsula Malaysia is able to secure a two-third majority without the support of Sarawak and Sabah.

“The representation by Sarawak and Sabah has been further eroded recently when Peninsula Malaysia has 166 parliamentary seats. That represents 75% of the total 222 seats. With a total of 56 seats, Sarawak and Sabah has a mere 25% representation in Parliament,” he said.

Wong said the imbalance is unjustified because it violates the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement.

“It violates the sanctity of the federation that Sarawak and Sabah actually joined to form the Federation of Malaysia as equal partners.

“Further, the re-delineation by the Election Commission apparently failed to consider the geographical sizes of Peninsula Malaysia (166 seats for land size of 131,598 sq km), Sarawak (31 seats for land size of 124,450 sq km) and Sabah (25 seats for land size of 73,631 sq km).

“To rectify the imbalance, the Election Commission should reinstate the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement, and re-delineate and increase the Parliamentary seats for Sarawak and Sabah,” he said.

For Sarawak, the average population per constituency is around 30,000.00. However, pursuant to the electoral roll as at June 2011 there are five constituencies with less than 20,000 voters.

These are P200 Batang Sadong (17,898), P.203 Lubok Antu (18,334), P.206 Tanjong Manis (17,754), P.207 Igan (16,193), P.210 Kanowit (18,135), P.216 Hulu Rajang (19,900) and P.222 Lawas (17,217).

On the other hand, urban/semi urban centres show a concentration of voters. There are seven constituencies with voters exceeding 40,000.

These are P.194 Petra Jaya (44,741), P.195 Bandar Kuching (53,276), P.196 Stampin (76,494), P.211 Lanang (53,486), P.212 Sibu (60,284), P.217 Bintulu (54,821), P.219 Miri (62,147).

“Considering the geographical vastness of Sarawak, it is acceptable to give certain weightage to rural constituencies, but the larger urban/semi-urban constituencies do provide justification to increase Parliamentary seats.

“Such re-delineation will ensure that there is ‘fairer’ representation of urban/semi-urban folks in Parliament,” Wong said.

The DAP leader wanted the government of the day to be care-taker government as soon as Parliament or state assembly  is dissolved, pointing out that there is no reason why a care-taker government is allowed to use public facilities such as government vehicles, town halls, Dewan Suarah to entice voters’ support.

“The care-taker Government should not be allowed to dangle development projects as election bait. No money or monetary gratification should be distributed in the name of it being a “caring Government” in order to enhance support during the campaign time.

“The Election Commission should ensure that such unhealthy political and electoral manoeuvring is stopped once Parliament or state assembly is dissolved,” he said.

He went to say that in order to gain public trust, the Election Commission should be truly independent and not beholden to any political party, especially the Government.

“No election officer or returning officer shall practice double standard. One example of double standard was recently practiced in Sibu.

“The same Returning Officer for the Sibu by-election had disallowed the winning DAP candidate from making a victory speech on 16^th May 2010 but he allowed the BN/SUPP winning candidate of Bawang Assan to give a lengthy victory speech in the Sarawak state election of 16^th April 2011.

“Such glaring double standard ought to be avoided,” he said.

Calling on returning and presiding officers to be properly trained, Wong said that many do not even know that counting agents are to be given tally sheets such as Borang 15 and Borang 16, duly signed by the Returning Officers or Presiding Officers and the counting agents of political parties.

“Even more scary have been cases of unlawful restraint of candidates at the nomination centres until the objection time has expired.

“The candidates for Pelawan were restrained by the Returning Officers during nomination in the 2006 and 2011 state elections. The candidate for Padungan in the 2011 Sarawak state election was similarly restrained and disallowed to leave the nomination centre until after the objection time had expired.

“When candidates were at the mercy of the Returning Officers or Presiding Officers, unless they were prepared to risk being disqualified, they had no choice but to stay behind, though unlawfully restrained or wrongfully imprisoned by the Election Commission,” he said.

The Election Commission should ensure that all officers involved in election be adequately trained from nomination process to voting and counting, he added.

Rural poor mounting attack on unscrupulous Telcos

Despite DAP Serian’s highlighting of the burden and inconvenience caused by giant Telcos with regard to the unscrupulous charges they made on pre-paid services, no support seemed to have been received from the very leaders who opposed the imposition of the 6% service that the Telcos wanted to impose effective 15^th September 2011 including BN Federal leaders.

The pre-paid mobile users were relieved when the Minister for Information, Communications and Culture Minister announced on 12/9/2011 that the Telcos agreed to defer the 6% service tax.

What actually happened was a nightmare to pre-paid mobile users. It became a burden and inconvenience to them.

Their hope now is hoping that this matter be highlighted, hoping the authorities will act and protect them. They came to DAP service center in Serian, one after another, each day to complain.

Now they are dismayed upon learning that they are being deducted very much more for services that they should not at all be paying.

This came to light when the users found out that every top-up amount they made were used up in a very short period of time. The validity of their top-up credits was also shortened. This means that even though there is credit balance in their phone the line cannot be used because the validity period has expired.

Previously a major Telco company charged 09 sen for any call that is auto-replied, unreachable numbers or engaged numbers. The user is charged even if he cuts the line in a matter or a second or two. Since 16^th September 2011, it was found that this charge was increased to 28 sen. Another major Telco even increases the charge to 36 sen.

Actually these calls should not be charged at all. It’s a matter of no service provided. The line is unreachable or engaged or the other end doesn’t pick up the phone, so there is no service provided.

DAP Serian made a simple calculation on the statement made by the Minister regarding the service tax that these major Telcos were paying to the government in the past 12 years.

He said that since 1998 to 2010, a period of 12 years, the Telcos paid to the government a service tax amounting to RM6b on pre-paid taxes alone. Everyone knows the major service providers are Celcom, Digi and Maxis.

The Minister further said that all in all, there were 26 million customers. If a major player is having a third of the users that would be 8.5 million. And if half of these are using prepaid services, actually more is estimated, that translated to 4 million prepaid users.

If we are to imagine that a third is paid by any of these major players in the past 12 years, that translates to RM2b. Divide that amount by the number of months in the past 12 years, each Telco pays the government RM1.38m per month for the pre-paid users as service tax.

Let’s calculate how much they rake in by charging just 09 sen for unanswered calls, engaged lines or unreachable numbers. If a user buys a credit of RM10 and was charged for 10 calls, that would amount to RM0.90. Multiply that with the 4 million users that would amount to RM3.6 m per month.

This is nuts compared to the RM1.38 million that they pay as service tax to the government. Why are the Telcos saying that they have been over generous by paying on behalf of the users when in fact they are reaping much more from the customers? With the increase to RM0.28, they are certainly raking in more than three times the amount. What a scam.

A parent who used to top up RM30 for two week usage found his credit finished in just four days. Another user who used to purchase RM10 complained that his credit was used up in just two days. Connectivity in the rural areas is poor which causes a lot of computer general replies and they are charged.

Another matter that annoys the prepaid users is the validity period of their credit top-up. For a top-up of RM5, the validity is just two days. Parents used to purchase RM5 for their children and they expect to use the credit to call towards the weekend. But they can’t use their credit anymore. For a RM10 top-up, the validity is 6 days, meaning that the line cannot be used the following week.

Prepaid mobile users are hoping that the authorities put a stop to all these ill-treatment. They would like the Telcos to extend their top-up validity to at least a week for a small top-up and two weeks for a RM10 top-up. The pre-paid users are mainly the poor and students.

Edward Luak

DAP Serian

24 Nov. 2011

About 500,000 people have no electricity

KUCHING: The DAP Member for Padungan, Wong King Wei told the Press that he recently received a written reply to his questions submitted to Dewan Undangan Negeri on electricity and water supply during the last sitting of the assembly.

The reply is as follows: “For the information of Ahli Yang Berhormat for Padungan, as at the end of 2010, the number of people who are not connected to the state grid is estimated at about 500,000 people or 111,000 households.

“However, these households are supplied with electricity through alternative systems.

“As for the water supply, the number of people who do not have treated water supply as at the end of 2010 is estimated at about 450,000 or about 100,000 households. Nevertheless, these households are supplied with clean water through alternative systems.”

According to Wong, the majority of the 500,000 people who do not have any electricity and 450,000 of them who do not have treated water supply are the rural population especially the Dayaks.

“It is sad that after 48 years of independence, many rural Sarawakians have not been given basic needs like electricity and water,” he said.

So what are our so-called Dayak leaders have been doing all this while?

DAP to contest Serian seat

18 Oct 2011


SERIAN: The Serian Parliamentary constituency is likely to see a straight fight between DAP-Pakatan Rakyat and SUPP-BN in the coming state election.

“This is because Pakatan Rakyat has agreed to DAP contesting the Serian seat,” said Sarawak DAP Secretary Chong Chieng Jen at the opening of Serian DAP service centre.

DAP has identified a number of potential Bidayuh candidates for the Serian seat against the incumbent from Sarawak United People’s Party Richard Riot who is certain to go for his sixth term as an MP.

The constituency has 29,963 voters, with 24,540 Bidayuh voters, and there are 3,216 Chinese voters, and the rest are Malays and Ibans.

Chong, who is the Kota Sentosa assemblyman said that DAP has now revived its branch in Serian under the leadership of Edward Luak, who is the chairman of the DAP branch here.

“With more people coming in to join the party, Serian is now moving on the right track, and from here we are moving to another milestone, that is, Serian will be contested by DAP.

“We will give the Barisan Nasional a good fight and a run for their money,” said Chong, urging members and supporters to put 101% efforts to ensure that Pakatan Rakyat will capture the Serian seat.

On the service centre, he said that it will serve as an operation that will play an important role in the coming general election.

In opening the centre, Lim Kit Siang, DAP national adviser, asked Sarawakians: “What can you get by joining DAP?

“It will not be able to offer you material benefits, to give you tenders, timber concessions or to give you big cars.

“No, DAP cannot give you that, but it can give you an opportunity to serve the people of Sarawak and Malaysia and to ensure that justice and freedom prevail in the country.

“That is our duty,” Lim said, asking every member to be patient, diligent and committed.

“We must have the determination to ensure justice and freedom prevail, and this is our biggest challenge,” he added, pointing out that it took the party 28 years to claim six seats in the 2006 state election, and 45 years to make an impact in Peninsular Malaysia.

Now the six seats have now increased to 12 seats, he said.

Lim said that their mission is not to topple the state government as it had already held its state election.

“We are going to change the Federal government and its policies, and when the Federal Government is changed, the state is certain to change, a fundamental change.

“And only then you can see the full operations of democracy, freedom and justice in the country,” he said.

Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim DAP national vice-chairman, who was present at the function, told the people to regard their votes as their most valuable ‘properties’.

“Don’t sell your votes. Your votes are your most valuable properties. If you throw away your votes, then you lose your power to bring change to the government.

“The coming general election is very important. It is an opportunity for you to change the government.

“Malaysia and Sarawak need change after 50 years or so under the Barisan Nasional rule,” he said, adding that they should not complain, if they do not want to change.

Budget: Nothing for Sarawak

KUCHING: Sarawak has not been given much attention by Barisan Nasional government in the Budget 2012 although its rural areas are their ‘fixed deposit’ claimed a Sarawak DAP leader.

“There is nothing much in the budget, except the mention of building some roads, supply of electricity and water to the rural areas. Even then we don’t know the amount as we have to share with Sabah,” said Chong Chieng Jen, DAP Secretary.

“Given 20% of the RM232 billion of the total expenditure is for development, how much can Sarawak get for its development? In this type of budget, Sarawak roads will remain substandard forever.

“The amount of money given to Sarawak for its development does not commensurate with its contribution to the national coffer,” said Chong, who is the Bandar Kuching MP.

Commenting on the Budget 2012, he said: “For the past 14 years running the nation has a total deficit amounting to more than RM436 billion.

“The next year budget has lot of goodies. Where will money for all these come from? And I think the only way for the government to finance all these is to obtain loans.

“We expect to incur RM45 billion deficit, and if you add this, our deficit will easily come to RM500 billion. This will be more than 50% of GDP,” he said, pointing out the Greece went bankrupt when its deficits reached 67% of its GDP.

“We are very near towards that direction,” he warned, describing the budget as a very unhealthy one.

He said that 80% of the nation’s budget is for administrative operations and emolument, while 20% is for the development fund.

“Funds for development projects such as roads will help to stimulate our economy,” Chong said, suggesting that the balanced budget should be 60% for administrative operations and 40% for development.

He said that the imbalanced budget had been going on for the past few years due to the over sized civil service.

“For this year, we see the emolument of 1.2 million civil servants, and the amount spent on this is more than the whole amount of development fund for the whole country. This is very inefficient use of money.

“That is really shocking,” he added.

Chong welcomed the government’s allocations of fund for Chinese and Mission schools and RM500 for a poor family, RM100 each for school children and RM200 each for university students, pointing out that the only good feeling is that something is better than nothing.

“But the government can’t really solve the financial burden of the poor. It does not address the poverty issue unlike our Alternative Budget.

“We give monthly allowance to the poor, and yet we can manage to reduce the expenditure.

“The main difference between the BN budget and alternative budget is that we emphasise on open tender, anti-corruption and the efficient use of resources, where as the BN budget is deafening silent on anti-corruption, cronyism, wastages and leakages,” he said.

Chong recalled that during the times of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, there was a lot of ‘hot air’ against corruption.

“At least there was some air. But this time there is no iota of air against corruption. I think he has resigned to the fact that corruption is a way of life,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sarawak BN leaders heaped praises on the Budget, describing it as people’s friendly and the government’s concern for all levels of society.

“While developing and transforming the economy of the country, the government is also helping to reduce the burden of the people,” said Social Development Minister William Mawan Ikom.

He said that the budget covers the basic needs of the rural society and is able to help improve their livelihood.

“No one is left in the announcement and the BN government has fulfilled its promises and realises what is needed by the people,” said Mawan, who is also the President of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party.

Another Dayak leader James Masing, who is Parti Rakyat Sarawak President, said that the budget allocated to rural infrastructures is Najib’s clear understanding of the need of accessibility among rural population.

“No amount of goodwill can eradicate rural poverty if rural land remains inaccessible,” said Masing, who is Land Development Minister.

On allocation for education, he said: “Education budget is a budget of a developed nation, because it gives free education to Malaysians till form five.

“This budget recognises the value of educated manpower to move the nation forward,” he added.

Pakatan Rakyat will abide by court decisions

KUCHING: Pakatan Rakyat has assured the Dayak community that it will recognise native customary rights (NCR) land as defined by the courts.

“This is the pledge of Pakatan Rakyat when we take over both the state and federal governments,” said Sarawak DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng at a Dayak Reawakening seminar.

“We have to abide by the court decisions which have declared that NCR lands include temuda land (farming land), pulau galau (communal forests), pemakai menua (territorial domain), pendam (graves) and tembawai (old longhouse sites),” said Wong who is also the state assemblyman for Bukit Assek.

DAP, PKR and PAS are partners in the Pakatan Rakyat.

“The Pakatan Rakyat will not be like the Barisan Nasional which has refused to abide by the court decisions. The BN government recognises and surveys only the temuda land. Other portions of the NCR lands are taken away and given to plantation conglomerates and crony companies.

“Unhappy landowners are suing the government for taking away their lands. There are now more than 200 NCR land cases. Some have been decided by the courts and many more are pending hearing,” he said.

Wong who is a lawyer said that the cases which the High Court had decided in favour of the Dayaks, the state government appealed against such decisions.

“The state government appeals to the Court of Appeal, when they fail again, they appeal to the Federal Court.

“Even the Federal Court agreed with the lower courts that NCR lands should include pulau galau, pemakai menua, temuda land, and so on.

“Yet today, the state government refuses to abide by that ruling,” he said.

“Clearly, the state government is not sincere in helping to develop the NCR lands. They are more interested in giving the NCR land to their cronies,” he added.

According to the state government, there are 1.6 million hectares of NCR lands.

“But where are they? Do you know where?" Wong asked, pointing out that when the Pakatan Rakyat formed the government, it will identify the lands, survey and give titles to the rightful owners.

“We will not take away the NCR lands. Instead we will help the Dayaks to develop their land. Certainly it will not be a Pelita-type of land concept where the native landowners only receive 0.17 sen as dividends per acre per year.

“To help the landowners, we will form a land commission. This is our pledge,” he said.

The DAP leader also asked Dayak ministers like Alfred Jabu (Deputy Chief Minister), James Masing (Land Development Minister), William Mawan (Social Development and Urbanisation Minister) and Michael Manyin (Infrastructure Development Minister) what have they done to protect the NCR lands.

“It is really pitiful and sorrowful that the Dayak ministers, members of parliament and state assemblymen are not prudent and not true spokesmen for the Dayak communities.

“They are not daring enough to talk about NCR land problems in Parliament or in the state assembly. I can tell you that during coffee breaks, they (BN Dayak reps) chose to sit next to us. Suddenly I felt pieces of paper being pushed into my pocket.

“Even without opening the papers, I know what is written inside. It concerns NCR land problems which they want us, the Opposition, to raise,” he said.

Calling on all Dayaks to be united, Wong said: “You must know your rights. These are your fundamental rights. Land is your life.

“And you must not allow your land to be taken to plantation conglomerates and to their cronies.

“Together, let us defend your rights,” he said.

Dayak Re-awakening Seminar

Place: Grand Continental Hotel, Kuching

Date and time: 27 August 2011 at 1.30 pm

Organised by: Dayak Consultative Council

Four speakers:

(a) DAP as Dayak’s political platform – Leon Jimat

(b) NEP & increasing rural income - YB Chong Chieng Jen

(c) Managing Sarawak Natural resources – YB Richard Wong

(d) Enhancing the rights of the indigenous people of Sarawak – Dr. John Brian

All interested can attend the seminar.

DAP cares for Dayaks?

KUCHING: Encouraged by the support given by the Dayaks in the recently concluded state election, Sarawak DAP has formally formed the Dayak Brain Trust (DBT) with the aim to understand the needs of the Dayaks, their concerns and their culture as it expands its activities into the rural areas.

Dr. John Brian Anthony, a Kuala Lumpur-based consultant has been appointed to chair it.

The idea of forming the Trust came about in the wake of the strong support of the Dayaks for DAP candidates in the last state election, resulting in some constituencies where DAP candidates winning with bigger majorities.

DAP’s six of the 12 seats were won due to the swing of Dayak support between 30% and 34% in mixed constituencies.

The Dayaks comprise the Ibans, Bidayuhs, Kayans, Kenyahs, Kelabit, Penans and other non-Muslim natives who form about 60% of Sarawak’s 2.4 million populations.

Sarawak DAP Secretary Chong Chieng Jen, who revealed this today, said that Dr. Brian is expected to recruit at least 10 more Dayak intellectuals to sit in the Trust which objective is to act as a ‘think tank’ for the DAP.

"The members of the Trust are not necessarily members of DAP. Intellectual Dayaks who have the interest of the Dayaks and the State are allowed to join.

“This Trust is set up for the purpose of giving advice to DAP on issues affecting the Dayaks and making recommendations and proposals to help the Dayaks,” he said.

“It is a consultative council to look at the welfare and concerns of Dayaks working in Peninsular Malaysia who are forced to leave Sarawak to work in Johor Bahru, Klang Valley and in other parts of the country.

“There are 45,000 Ibans in Johor Bahru and 40,000 in Klang Valley. Altogether, there are 125,000 Ibans working in various capacities in Peninsular Malaysia,” Chong said, pointing out that some of them are faced with hardships and are separated with their families.

Chong related a sad story of an Iban worker from Bawang Assan who worked in Johor Bahru. Due to his own problems at work, he was unable to look after his wife and children who were left behind in the longhouse. His wife had to divorce him.

“This man told us of his plight,” he said, pointing out that the majority of them are earning between RM1, 200 to RM1, 500 a month.

“It is a sad thing that they have to leave their longhouses to look for jobs in Peninsular Malaysia because Sarawak’s economy is stagnant.

“They are young and productive workers who can contribute to Sarawak’s economy if they remain in the state. Imagine, if more than 120,000 workers return to Sarawak, they can contribute around RM120 million to the state economy,” he said.

“These are some of the issues that the Trust can discuss and recommend to DAP which will in turn raise them in the Dewan Undangan Negeri or in Parliament,” he said.

Chong, who is the state assemblyman for Kota Sentosa, recalled that he tried to raise the plight of Iban workers in Peninsular Malaysia at the recent sitting of the state assembly and why they were forced to seek jobs away from home.

“I was debating the amendment bill to Land Custody Development Authority (LCDA) and attacking the state government’s development on native customary rights (NCR) land which only benefits the cronies and not the landowners.

“The fact that there are thousands of young and productive Iban natives going to Peninsular Malaysia to earn a living shows the failure of the government’s land development policy.

“This was when BN state assemblymen shouting at me and so rowdy were they that the Speaker forced me to sit down saying that I was touching on a very sensitive issue.

“They were really scared to hear the truth,” Chong said.

DUN speech of YB Ting Tze Fui

June 2011 DUN Speech of DAP YB for Meradong Ting Tze Fui

Mr. Speaker, I am much obliged for this opportunity to participate in this debate in appreciation for the address of Tuan Yang Terutama Yang Dipertua Negeri Sarawak delivered in this August house on 21^st June 2011.

First of all, I wish to record my heartfelt thanks to all the voters in Meradong to vote for DAP and yes, I am back! The Honourable Member for Bawang Assan, the “Motion King” of this State Assembly, your futile effort in suspending Opposition members one after another has enabled our leader, the Honourable Member for Bukit Assek to bring a strengthened troop of 12 to this State Assembly. Be assured, our leader shall lead perhaps, 24 of us back to this State Assembly in five year time, if you persist in your effort to expel some more of us from this sacred Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, this State Assembly housed in this grand RM300 million building sits for a a period of 16 days only per year, i.e a total of 80 days over the next five years. Therefore, there is so much wastage and under-utilization of this very grandiose DUN building. I do hereby strongly suggest that this State Assembly should sit at least 3 sessions a year so that the voice and plight of the people can be brought to this State Assembly more often.

Local Issues

Mr. Speaker, unlike the BN backbenchers in this August House who always start their speeches by giving the BN State Government or Chief Minister the most glorifying compliments they can ever think of, I would like to raise some local issues pertaining to my constituents in Meradong.

a. Water Disruption Problem

Mr. Speaker, water supply is most essential to all lives living.The frequent water disruptions occurring in particular in Sg Petai, Selidap, Sg. Bakong, Jalan KJD and Lemayong areas in my constituency have been particularly acute in the past year. Residents in these areas have been put to tremendous inconvenience, due to disruptions and insufficient supply of clean piped water. Many folks have been forced to buy drinking water at a great financial burden to the residents, especially to the lower income groups.

The persistent water supply disruptions reflect not only the serious internal problems of the local Water Board but they have demonstrated clearly the sheer incompetence of the staffs of the Water Board. Perhaps it is high time for all the staffs of the Water Board to cooperate and work together so that they may be able to find the root causes and the solutions to the water supply disruption problems which have been ongoing for all too often in Meradong for the past many months. It is also high time for the Honourable Minister for Public Utilities to get the staffs of the Water board to buck up.

The State Government has consistently claimed to have spent millions and millions on infrastructure developments and other amenities, yet on the other hand, there are numerous substandard and inferior services and problems such as water supply disruptions, regular electricity blackouts, poor roads and drainage conditions which remain long unresolved.

Therefore, if a country is unable to provide satisfactorily the very basic necessity such as water supply to all our countrymen, how is Malaysia going to achieve Wawasan 2020, and be elevated into an advanced nation in 2020?

2. Rejang Bridge

Mr. Speaker, I wish to speak out on behalf of all the people in the Central Region of Sarawak that it is high time to abolish the Rejang bridge tolls.This is an utmost and earnest appeal, not a rubbish suggestion deserving to be dumped into a Trineken rubbish bin prepared by Minister for Land Development!

Since Woodville Sdn.Bhd, the concessionaire of the bridge toll has been fully paid in kind, doesn’t the State or Federal government have sufficient fund to buy back the bridge and let all bridge users free access? A Pakatan Rakyat government would promise to buy back the concessionaire’s right to collect bridge tolls and it would provide unrestricted access to all bridge users. The abolition of the bridge toll should spur faster economic growth of the West bank of the Rejang River.

Land issue

Mr. Speaker, in view of the many NCR landowners, whose land has been grabbed over the years by big corporations with the cohort of the State Government, it is just so sad to hear from the Government Ministers, especially Member for Layar to persistently condemning the Opposition as against development. But how ironic has it been for the Member for Layar, on several occasions, to lambast the Opposition to be so effective in suppressing and oppressing the natives?

When the Opposition does speak out, on matters relating to NCR landowners, rest be assured that we are all the way for all of you. We have your vital interests over your land in our heart. We want to protect your very legitimate claims over your land by speaking out loudly and clearly on your behalf and against indiscriminate and wanton land grabs by big or dormant companies.

I produce herewith a copy of the letter dated 20^th November 2008 and signed by the permanent secretary of the Ministry for Land Development. The said letter has granted an approval to one company called Vertical Drive Sdn. Bhd. to invest and develop a total of 48199 hectares of NCR land in which 26596 ha. Is situated at KJD/lower Julau area in Meradong where many longhouses folks are being adversely affected.

How on earth can this dormant company, which was incorporated on 3.6 2008 beg ranted 48199 ha. of NCR land in less than 6 months time on 20.11.2008.

Does the Minister for Land Development agree that when more than 100,000 acres of land are being grabbed, there would be hundreds, if not thousands of NCR landowners who have inhabited on the said land for decades, who shall be displaced from their homeland permanently and unconscionably?

When large tract of land are being converted to large-scale cultivation of oil palms, inevitably there is little regard by the authority to the adverse environmental impact, in particular the effect of tree-felling in the water catchment area in Meradong which fall within the above stated 100,000 acres of land. Moreover due to widespread use of fertilizer it is unavoidable that the water supply would be polluted and poisonous thereby rendering long-term consumption of water from these areas unsafe.

Agriculture

Nowadays, the price of fertilizer, pesticides, and other agriculture chemicals have gone up drastically. In Meradong, farmers can hardly get any form of subsidy from Jabatan Pertanian. Yet they have to virtually beg for the supply of fertilizer through BN elected representatives.

When the Agricultural Department’s role as administrative department has been usurped by BN elected representatives, who are supposed to be lawmakers, what function does the Jabatan Pertanian serve really? It seems the agriculture department only exists in name!

Mr. Speaker, Sarawak has millions and millions of hectares of fertile land laying in waste and idling. If the State Government has been more pro-small farming, Sarawak would not have to import 70% of its rice requirements while West Malaysia is 70% self-sufficient in rice consumption.

Mr. Speaker, I have spoken at length before in favour of granting small acreage of farm land to small farmholders for the purpose of cultivating rice, fruits or vegetables. To-date, hardly any small plots of land have been granted to smalltime farmers while thousands and thousands of acres of valuable land are one after another, alienated to big corporations or CM related companies. In the process, millions and millions of RM are being made by greedy middlemen, family members or brokers.

Gerrymander

Mr. Speaker, the gentlemen across the Bench may gloat about the fact that you still have an absolute number of 56 and that there are only 15 of us on the Opposition Bench. But rest be assured that our number may be small but we shall speak out without any fear for all Sarawakians.

Now that the 10^th Sarawak State Election is over, there are some pertinent facts which are clear and emerging. The opposition has gained 45% of the total votes cast and yet there are only 15 of us here. But the BN with 55% of the votes have 55 seats in this State Assembly.

Why? Pure and simple, it is the grossly unfair gerrymander found in our electoral system that has been blatantly manipulated and perpetrated by this BN government to entrench its stronghold of political power. The concept of 1 vote 1 value and proportionate representation have long been thrown out of the window. Many young people who are residing and working outside the State have all been robbed the right to vote and disenfranchised unreasonably.

Under the present gerrymandered electoral system, 7 out of the 71 seats have more than 25,000 registered voters while 26 seats have less than 10,000 voters each.

Mr. Speaker, how to justify the seat of Pending having 29,488 voters while the neighbouring seat of Satok has only 10,431 voters? How do you justify Palawan comprising 28,808 voters while the neighbouring seat of Nangka merely has 14,197 voters? There are such seats, eg. Daro having only 7,305 voters and Layar merely 8,109 voters.

**Mr. Speaker, we cannot continue to have these grossly gerrymandered and distorted electoral boundaries to persist. SUPP has been marvelously silent and completely incompetent on the issue of electoral reforms for the past 40 over years. It has utterly failed to fight for extra seat allocations or to have the electoral boundaries redrawn so that more seats could be created justly in favour of the urban voters.**

Mr. Speaker, we need to urgently introduce vital reforms to the current state’s unfair, unrepresentative and undemocratic electoral system to reflect the true essence of democracy, i.e 1 vote 1 value. We genuinely require a fairer and truly representative electoral system that is not biased against any particular ethnic group or geographical location.

Mr. Speaker, if the Chief Minister is truly sincere in upholding real democratic principles and ideals, he shall without hesitation and strongly endorse my calls for genuine electoral reforms. The Chief Minister’s claim of being the Chief Minister for all Sarawakians would run into the smack of the face of democracy and his so-called vision of all inclusive politics to look after the interests of all races in Sarawak would only sound like a smokescreen, if he is against bona fide reforms.

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Truly, the Chief Minister has been the longest serving CEO of this sizable state of Sarawak which has tremendous wealth and natural resources, from water, land, timber to minerals, oil and gas etc. On the other hand, Singapore, the size of the Bakun Dam and without any natural resources is such a great contrast to Sarawak undeniably.

Mr. Speaker, 30 long years at the helm of the political power in Sarawak should have enabled the Chief Minister to turn Sarawak into the richest state in Malaysia. What is so sad for the Chinese community has been to hear from this longest serving Chief Minister to utter a regretful statement to the effect that after 30 years in power, he did not know what the Chinese community really wants.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to tell the Chief Minister loud and clear the Chinese community wants things like open tenders, less nepotism or cronyism, elimination of corruption and crimes, equal treatment of all races, automatic renewal of all expiring land leases with a nominal sum as premiums together with the lifting of Section 47 impositions soonest possible; to help to achieve the full recognition of Unified Examination Certificate; the reintroduction of local council election and to assist to eliminate the perennial controversy over the award of scholarships; to fight for extra oil royalties from 5% to 20% which would generate extra yearly RM6 to 7 billion for Sarawak; to abolish the Rejang Bridge tolls and to achieve a truly Malaysian’s Malaysia, People First, and not Family First. These are the important things which are dear in the heart for which the Chinese community wants the Government to display greater understanding, redress, concern, assistance or concrete actions to be taken.

Mr. Speaker, the Chinese community has repeatedly urged the Government to provide annual financial grant to Chinese Independent schools. Yes, Chief Minister has given a token gesture by granting 2,000 hectares of land prior to the 416 state election, possibly in the most remote part of Kapit Division.

Sarawak belongs to all people of Sarawak. If the Honourable Chief Minister as the Minister of Planning and Resource Management was able to grant hundreds acres of prime land to a dormant company ' Monarda Sdn. Bhd.' In which CM's son owns 52 percent of the total shares, why can’t he just endow 27 acres out of 270 acres of prime land to all the Chinese independent school in Sarawak which would benefit not just one person only but thousands and thousands of students statewide?

Generally, Mr.Speaker, people want a fairer and more egalitarian society wherein they are being treated equally like all other races, to be given more business and public service opportunities and equal distribution of natural resources and wealth.

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Now, one thing both the Opposition and the Members of the Government Bench can share joyfully is to position ourselves together for the final countdown of the century and to witness the historic grand finale of this undoubtedly the longest serving Chief Minister of Sarawak, after all of us have been waiting an eternity for the last curtain to be drawn.

Brain Drain / Labour Outflow

Mr. Speaker, the problem of brain drain stems from social, economic and political injustices embedded in this society plus a system of perpetuated built -in discrimination. Whatever awards, tenders or privileges given out should be based on merits irrespective of race, religion and gender.

Mr. Speaker, it is a fact that Government revenue comes from various avenues of direct or indirect taxes imposed or derived from all tax-paying Malaysians and companies with registered businesses in Malaysia. The caretakers of the public funds are the Government of the day and the public bureaucrats who are supposed to utilize and dispense the public funds fairly and prudently.

Sadly, we are faced with the yearly and persisting situation of Malaysian Public Services Department in bungling and thereby denying the JPA scholarships to 363 top scoring 8A+ students in the SPM examination this year.

**This State Government has failed year after year to show any care and concern towards this never-ending problem by failing to make any effective representations to the Federal Government to redress the balance so that the perennial and unjustifiable scholarship awards can be rectified to the satisfaction of all concerned.**

Mr. Speaker, regrettably may other countries such as Singapore would be glad to offer our disappointed bright students to their countries for further studies of their choices, many of these top students, upon completion of their tertiary studies would unlikely return to serve Malaysia or Sarawak.

Mr. Speaker, when so many of our young professionals leave our country, our state, where are we going to find qualified staff and skilled labourers to serve our labour needs of our schools, hospitals and industries, especially SCORE which the State Government claims is going to generate thousands and thousands of job opportunities?

We have been a good net exporter of skilled and qualified professionals, but even a bigger and greater importer of unskilled labourers which number amounts to about seven million nationally, which is equivalent to a quarter of the nation’s population. So what is the State Government going to do with our industries so dependent on the influx of unskilled labourers from Indonesia, Bangladesh or the Philippines and so forth?

There is no wonder that in the past 20 years, a million Malaysians have emigrated overseas. In Sarawak the worst hit is the central region where Sibu, Bintangor, Sarikei and the peripheral towns are more and more like retirement towns because most of the young and able-bodied people are working elsewhere overseas or in West Malaysia.

Mr. Speaker, this is not caused by the Opposition! This sorry state of affairs is the direct consequence of the BN unfair rule for the past half a century.

Conclusion

Mr. Speaker, the result of the recent Sarawak State election clearly demonstrated that people are demanding changes, real changes! It is hoped that with this in mind the State Government will show genuine care and concern for all the people in Sarawak. As the Opposition members have been duly elected by more than 45% of Sarawakians, it is further hoped the Government shall treat us with due respects.