DUN Questions for November, 2009 Sitting

1. Bertanya Kepada YAB the Chief Minister and the Minister for Planning and Resource Management:-

On matter relating to lands gazetted under Section 47 at Bako/Sejingkat area in Kuching :-

(a) Does the State Government have any development plan for the lands gazetted under Section 47 at Bako/Sejingkat area in Kuching? If so,:-

(i) What are the development plans and the stages of implementation of the said plans as at 30.9.2009?

(ii) Please give details of the lands (i.e. lot number, block number and acreage) that have been affected by the said development plan(s) at Bako/Sejingkat area.

(iii) What is the amount of compensation that is likely to be paid out by the state government to the land owners as a result of the acquisition of lands in part (ii) above for the purpose of the said development?

(b) Given that:-

(i) there are still 397 parcels of land in Bako/Sejingkat area that have been subject to Section 47 Land Code (Chapter 81) 1958 since year 1974;

(ii) there is no Section 48 notice issued for the said 397 parcel of lands in Bako/Sejingkat area all these years;

(iii) the state government is always entitled to re-impose Section 47 notification should the government truly required the land(s) for public purposes as and when it needs it; and

(iv) for the natural justice and fairness to the landowners of the said 397 parcels of land in Bako/Sejingkat area;

Is the state government prepared to uplift the Section 47 Notice on all the said 397 parcels of land around Bako/Sejingkat pending any concrete decision respecting any potential development at Bako/Sejingkat area by the government?

(Written Answer)

2. Bertanya Kepada YB the Minister of Infrastructure:-

The ministry concerned had informed the August House on 2.8.2006 that Jabatan Kerja Raya is bidding for the federal funds under the 9MP to upgrade Jalan Setia Raja to a six-lane road. The round about near the Rajah Court Hotel will be upgraded to a traffic signal controlled junction. And also the section of Jalan Simen Raya near CMS Factory will also be improved as part of the bridge upgrading. However, there is still no sign of progress on sites respecting the aforementioned projects since its announcement three years ago. Please state:-

(i) Whether the projects abovementioned are still in plan?

(ii) If so, please furnish details as to the stages of implementation, the commencement dates, the contract sum involved and the estimated time of completion of each project abovementioned.

(iii) The causes of delay in commencing the abovementioned projects since its announcement of more than three years ago?

(iv) If the answer in part (i) above is in the negative, why?

(Written Answer)

3. Bertanya kepada YB Minister of Industrial Development -

On the matter relating to the proposal of building a permanent wholesale market at 6^th Mile, Jalan Kuching/Serian, in the answer supplied to my question no. 3 raised in the last May, 2009 sitting, it was stated that the Majlis Perbandaran Padawan had submitted the proposal and that it was a private driven project. Please state:

(a) When and where did Majlis Perbandaran Padawan submit the proposal to?

(b) Whether the said proposal has been approved by the relevant authority? If so, when? If not, why?

(c) Why the state government who claimed to be caring to its people does not take up the initiative and responsibility to provide the basic facility to the wholesalers in Kuching by building a permanent shelter but instead leave it to the private sector to take up the project?

(Written Answer)

4. Bertanya kepada YAB the Chief Minister and the Minister for Planning and Resource Management:-

In replying to my question No. (6) raised in November, 2008 sitting, the relevant ministry in its written answer informed that from year 2002 until 27.10.2008, a total of 80,933 hectares of state land in Sarawak have been directly alienated to private companies. In respect thereto, please list out in table form of each alienation with details of company names, particulars of state land with lot number and acreage, the purpose of development etc. and the premium paid for.

(Written Answer)

5. Bertanya kepada YB Minister of Environment and Public Health:

On matter relating to policlinic:

(a) For years, Tanah Puteh Policlinic, Kuching is facing a major problem of frequent power trips of at least 10 times per day due undersupply of electricity power in the said clinic. Please state:-

(i) Whether the ministry is taking the necessary steps to upgrade the existing electricity power to “three phased power”?

(ii) If so, please furnish details as to when can the upgrading works be carried out, the cost involved and the time frame to have the problem fully resolved.

(iii) In the answer in part (i) is in the negative, why so?

(b) In view that the Tanah Puteh Policlinic always overcrowded with average of 400 patients daily with patients come as far as Petra Jaya and that there are only 2 doctors on duty per day to cope with the numbers:-

(i) Whether the government has plan to build more and better polyclinics in the vicinity of Bandar Kuching and or Petra Jaya constituencies to meet the needs of the growing population and improving health care for the people?

(ii) If so, what is the plan? Please furnish details including the location, size of the policlinics and/or hospitals as well as the commencement date of the project and the estimated time of completion of the project.

(iii) If not, why?

(Written Answer)

6. Bertanya kepada YAB the Chief Minister and Minister of Planning and Resource Management:-

On matter relating to the compassionate aid fund for the flood victims, the Resident office, Kuching had via its letters dated 3.8.2009 (Ref: RBK/M.37Jld.22) and 12.8.2009 (87)RBK/M.37 Jld.22) respectively informed that the names of the flood victims from Bintawa Fishing Village, Lorong 1 Bintawa Fishing Village and Kampung Kudei had been entered in their registry and also forwarded to the higher authority for consideration and approval, please state

(a) Which higher authority is processing the application?

(b) Whether the approval has been granted? If so, what is the amount approved per household and when can the money be given out to the flood victims?

(c) If not, why the delay?

(Oral Answer)

7. Bertanya kepada YAB the Chief Minister :-

As reported in the Borneo Post dated 1.8.209, the Director of MACC Sarawak has mentioned in a forum that between 2004 and 2009, MACC Sarawak had received the following corruption complaints against the respective councils/District Office:

No.	Name of the Council/District Office	Number of Complaints Received
1.	Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara	28
2.	Bau District Office	19
3.	Majlis Perbandaran Padawan	16
4.	Majlis Bandaraya Kuching Selatan	12
5.	Sri Aman District Council	9
6.	Lubok Antu District Council	8
7.	Saratok District Council	5
8.	Betong District Council	5
9.	Lundu District Council	4
10.	Serian District Council	4
11.	Samarahan District Council	4
12.	Simunjan District Council	2

(a) What is the status of investigation and action taken by MACC sarawak against the abovementioned corruption complaints received against the respective councils/District Offices? Please provide detailed status report against each complaint received including names of the officers being investigated, the complained act of corrupt practices by the relevant officers, the date of investigation being carried out etc.

(b) Whether charges have been proffered against the relevant officers under the law?

(Written Answer)

8. Bertanya kepada YAB the Chief Minister:-

On 1.7.2008, Press Metal Berhad (“PMS”) had executed a Power Purchase Agreement with Syarikat SESCO in connection to the power supply of 600 MW for PMS’s Mukah Smelting Plant by 2010.

(a) Whether the state government is prepared to reveal the terms and conditions respecting the Power Purchase Agreement between Syarikat SESCO and PMS? If so, when can the copy of the Power Purchase Agreement be extended to all the Honourable Members of the August House? If not, why?

(b) What is the years of term and the unit rate charged per MW by Syarikat SESCO for the supply of power to PMS under the Power Purchase Agreement ?

(c) What is the amount of profit earned and/or loss suffered by Syarikat SESCO annually from the supply of power to PMS?

(Written Answer)

9. Bertanya kepada YAB the Chief Minister and the Minister for Planning and Resource Management:-

On matter relating to development projects:-

(a) What developments and/or upgrading projects including private sector driven projects of all forms be it buildings, complexes, roads, bridges etc have been approved and carried out in the constituencies of Padungan (N.9), Pending (N.10), Batu Lintang(N.11), Kota Sentosa (N.12) and Batu Kawa (N. 13) for the years of 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011?

Please state the answer in table form of each project under respective constituency with full details of name of projects, commencement date, completion date, contract sum, stages of implementation, developers’ name, contractors’ name, indicates every projects whether it is federal, state or private sector drive projects etc.

(b) What are the total amount of the state and federal allocations for development carried out or intended to be carried out in each of the constituencies of Padungan (N.9), Pending (N.10), Batu Lintang(N.11), Kota Sentosa (N.12) and Batu Kawa (N. 13) for the years of 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011?

(Written Answer)

10. Bertanya kepada YB the Minister of Infrastructure:-

A collapsed jetty behind the Land and Survey Store at Jalan Simen, Pending and “Maimuna” shipwreck embedded in nipah swamp have partially narrowed a section of Sungai Apong and thus causing great obstruction to the fishing trawlers using the said river:-

(a) When will the Land and Survey Sarawak start removing the collapsed jetty as what has been told in the August House by the ministry concerned in May, 2009 sitting?

(b) What is the cause of delay for Land & Survey Sarawak to take its own sweet time for carrying out the necessary steps to remove the said obstacle?

(c) Whether the discussion between Sarawak River Board and the Department of Museum Sarawak which was supposed to be held in June, 2009 had been materialized respecting the salvage of the shipwreck? If so, what was the outcome of the discussion?

(Oral Answer)

Penny Wise, Pound Foolish!

The Government can afford to buy two Submarine costing RM3.4 billions ringgits but they could not afford to pay for five cans of Ridsect costing RM43.50.

I only knew how hard-up the Civil Defence is after I personally made a call to them on Thursday afternoon. The 991 cannot afford to buy Ridsect but our government can buy submarines.

It all started last Saturday when a mother from Sg. Moyan wanted to spend quality time with her brother and three children to play in the jungle near their flat. After a swarm of hornets attack them, the three children were killed while the mother is still fighting her life in the Intensive care unit. Her brother is the only lucky one who escaped the fatal attack.

This is a bitter lesson for Kuchingnites to learn. After the incident, everyone appears to be looking upward searching their areas for hornet nests. And I must say, the hornets breed fast and far.

An officer from 991 was interviewed by the media following the incident urging the public to contact the department for help if they came across any hornet nests. I was impressed by their readiness to assist the people.

Back to Thursday, I received a few phone calls on the whereabouts of the hornet nests. I called 991 to give them the information. I was surprised when I was asked to describe the size of the hornet nests. I told them I have no idea as the complainant asked me to relay the message to them. I asked if they could go and see for themselves, providing them the location for their easy reference. The officer replied that they had too many phone calls and was unable to do so. I called back to the complainant and asked him. I then called 991 again to convey the size of the hornet nest which was described as the size of a rice plate.

Then the officer of the 991 dropped the bombshell: “Can you ask the complainant to get ready a five cans of Ridsect and we will try to go tonight”. I must say I was not only taken aback but was too shock to answer him. I can only say I will convey back the message.

The reality of the situation hit me hard. If it were not a serious matter, I would be laughing away. On September 3, the first submarine arrived in Malacca Straits and Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the 2^nd one will arrive in December. He announced that in the 13th and 14^th Malaysia Plan, the Ministry will try to acquire a few more submarines.

Here we are buying submarines worth billions. And the government CANNOT AFFORD to buy a few cans of Ridsect to save the lives of Malaysians!!! And all this time, I was impressed by the news report that 991 is willing to walk the extra mile and help the people. For once, a government department had taken an extra step to help the people. How wrong and disappointed I am to learn that there is a catch there.

Why is it that the people always must bear the consequences? There are lots of hornet nests found in trees and rooftops. It is not the people who breed the hornets there.

The officer-in-charge of 991 here should get his people moving. Go down to see how large the hornet nests are when people called up. Write to your bosses to ask for funding. If the government can afford to buy submarines, I am sure they can buy you Ridsect by the dozens. The Internal security department of which 991 is under will not break its bank buying Ridsect to save people lives but with more submarines (I am still wondering what it was for, another Malaysia Boleh ego trip for the government?), tax payers money are not used wisely.

And when you service the people, please do it sincerely. Do not ask them to buy the basic necessities for you to do your job when it should be your Ministry’s responsibility to do so.

The whole incident left a sour taste thinking of the logical inefficiency of our government system. The country may have the means of saving the country from enemies invading our shores, but to destroy a few hornets nests in Kuching, it would require members of the public to purchase the means to do it.

What next – members of the public pay for the petrol in police cars when they lodge police reports? I understand this is standard practice in a neighbouring country.

Mosquitoes attack!

Special Branch Officers

Police in full force!!

I and a group of us DAP members spent Saturday morning donating blood, not to save lives but to feed mosquitoes at Taman Emas, Mile 9, Penrissen. We from the DAP including Chong Chieng Jen decided to hold a protest in front of the company which has ‘invaded’ Taman Emas and set up roots there by dumping several spots with recycle tyres.

I am not against people doing an honest business but I do dislike those who do business at the expense of the discomfort of the people. And this is one of the cases where the people’s well being and welfare were not taken into consideration.

Two years ago, I was called by the residents there to look into their plights where a mountain of recycled tyres was dumped there. The residents were not only unhappy with the ugly tyres taking shape near their houses but the invasion of mosquitoes was too much for them to bear. They were also worried that if the tyres burned down, the air would be filled with poisonous gas.

I went there to see for myself. Then on October 2, 2007, I wrote to the Padawan municipal council, Department of Environment, Samarahan district council asking them to ensure that the company be moved to a more appropriate place. Actually, the owner had agreed to do so earlier on.

Alas, two years have gone, the tyres are still there although less, but the swarm of mosquitoes are happily making the area their residence.

We went there at 11 am and not long after that, the police arrived. Ok, they may have a job to do. I would be grateful if they were there to film the tyres or to report to the higher authority the suffering faced by the people. If only that would happen, Malaysia would have been a better place to live in.

While the residents were in the process of signing the petition letter, more police were seen to have arrived. To me, the horde of policemen appears like harassment and resulted in some of the residents were too scared to sign. There were at least a total of 5 police vehicles and about 20 policemen, which made the area looked like a place where a major crime has been committed.

One of the residents was heard complaining that in the past, when they reported cases of crime in their area, the police were either late in arriving or they would not bother. He said, “Now, we have a complaint against the company and they are so efficient to come and see what the DAP are doing here,” he said cynically.

I certainly agreed with the resident’s statement. If only the police are efficient to fight crime, solve housebreaking cases, snatching cases instead of concentrating their effort in running after opposition members, who were in fact trying sincerely to help the people.

If the authorities had acted years ago when the matter was first brought up, do you think we would have to go there today? Had the police, who were there this morning in droves, patrolled the housing areas or the city, I am sure there are less crimes happening today. Come on, you all have your priority all wrong. We were not there shouting slogans against the government; we were there to ask the authority to do something for the 100 over residents there who are afraid of getting dengue fever due to the invasion of mosquitoes.

The government spends so much money on advertisement in the electronic and printed media telling the public to be aware of dengue, keeping their house clean, changing water frequently to prevent breeding of aedes mosquitoes and here we have a classical case of mosquitos’ breeding ground, and they are all turning a blind eye!

MBKS sits on fallen tree complaint

Almost a year ago, I wrote to the Kuching City South (MBKS) telling them of a few trees which were leaning towards the house of a Mr. Sim at 1106, Lorong 2 Chong Kiun Kong, urging the Council to chop down the trees before further damages could be done.

I had followed up by calling the Council’s Hotline and was given the excuse that the trees are on a private land.

I suggested to the council that due to the danger the trees might pose to Mr. Sim’s house and nearby residents, I asked them to chop the trees and the expenses be billed to the land owner.

Mr. Sim and his nearby neighbours had said that if the trees were to fall on their houses and cause damages, they would sue the council.

A week ago, I received a phone call from Mr. Sim who told me that a tree had fallen near his house, while those leaning trees appeared to be getting closer to his property. And this time, I called the Hotline again, urging for immediate help before anyone gets hurt.

This morning I took time to go to Mr. Sim’s house to take a look and was dismayed to find that nothing was done. The fallen trees, the shrubs and the debris covered part of the entrance leading to Mr. Sim’s house.

I can imagine the frustration Mr. Sim and his family is feeling. To make matters worst, the footpath at the side of his house has become inaccessible.

I am dismayed at the attitude of the council. Do they want to wait until another tree falls on someone? The council is a service orientated organization who should be looking into the welfare of the people. Complaints had been made not only once, but they choose to ignore the issue.

A year has passed. The pertinent question now is to wonder whether those trees and shrubs should be allowed to grow in front of their houses. Are Mr. Sim and his neighbours too insignificant for the authorities to help them? Whatever the reason, I hope the council would do something to clear the shrubs and debris. It is unfair for Mr. Sim and the others to live in such condition which creates an unsightly image right in front of their house.

Another point I wish to bring up here is that despite having written to the council, they never even have the courtesy to reply or raise the issue for discussion. I think it is time for the Council to move forward, and the working attitude among some its staffs have to be changed. They should be more efficient and friendly.

RM300 Million DUN Complex, But People's Questions Not Answered

I always believed that an elected State assembly person’s job is to see that the people’s woes and queries are attended to. I am very disappointed with the Barisan Nasional State Ministers and Assistant Ministers’ attitude in how they perceived and handled issues when posed to plights brought out by the people.

During the May, 2009 Dewan sitting, I submitted 7 questions on environment issues, land issues, floods, projects and others pertaining to the people’s problem. Till now I have not received any answers. This shortcoming is not to be endured by me but also by other DAP ADUN despite our Chairman insisting and requesting for the answers to be submitted by or on August 18 last month.

This showed the lackadaisical attitude of the BN State Ministers and Assistant Ministers’ attitude who are either sitting on the problems or not showing their concern.

The State government should be serious in tackling the people’s problems and by sitting or sweeping the matter under the carpet would not solve any problem. What is the use of having RM300 million DUN complex if people's problem not attended.

Disregarding and avoiding our questions is equivalent to the Barisan Nasional’s way of putting aside the people’s problems. It is almost five months already and here you are, we are still waiting for answers.

I hope the answers would be ready soonest. If they are not forthcoming within within two weeks, we would be forced to table a motion to deduct the Ministers and Assistant ministers pay by RM10.00 in the next sitting in November.

It is shameful that the salaries of these ministers are paid by tax payers’ money and all they do is to sit on the people’s problem without taking any effort trying to solve them. Put it blantly, "makan gaji buta". And obviously, "Malaysia Boleh"!

Turtle Eggs Again !!

Sarawak Wildlife Controller, Datu Haji Len Talif Salleh told reporters in a function at a hotel on Thursday that enforcement against illegal activities involving wildlife could be enhanced if local authorities like DBKU or MBKS could take part in the programme of Honorary Wildlife Ranger.

He even admitted that illegal trading of wildlife was still rampant in the State especially that of wild boar and turtle eggs.

I am utterly amazed that Len Talif could utter such statement after the unsuccessful case or was it a close case involving police senior officers and personnel who openly and blatantly consumed turtle eggs on a Saturday night on February 28 this year in Batu Kawa General Operation Force camp.

Despite the news appearing on Borneo Post front page with combo pictures shown of the turtle eggs on March 2, there was silence from the senior police officers. I lodged a police report on March 5; again the silence was deafening.

There was no comment from the police or Len Talif’s SFC until now. When reporters asked Len Talif then, he could only say investigation is going on. Even in the DUN when I brought up the issue, I was told that there was insufficient evidence!

Insufficient evidence even with photos shown? Why was it that Len Talif did not dare reveal the statistic of the turtle eggs seized and the number of people arrested and prosecuted? Was it because the figure was too little to be highlighted? Or were the turtle eggs consumed by an elite group, and the authority had to turn a blind eye? Or was it only Tom, Dick and Harry who consume such illegal delicacies would face the music and the number was too small.

The police is a uniformed body. They should uphold the laws and not break them. From that incidence, the people have lost faith in the already eroding confidence of the police. By not taking action, a lot of people have come to the conclusion that there are two sets of laws, in Sarawak, one for the high and mighty, the authorities who would escape from Gods know what laws they could break, and another for ordinary people like you and me.

I always wonder how the policemen would react if they see people selling turtle eggs. Will they arrest the people and have them told that the police had too consume the turtle eggs and no one was charged? How are they going to uphold the laws when they themselves broke it in the first place? The public will ridicule them. I know not all policemen consumed turtle eggs but some of those at the dinner are senior personnel in the police force. Why was it that none of them mentioned to the host of the dinner that it was illegal to consume turtle eggs. And please, don’t plead ignorance of the law; the court will not accept that as mitigation or evidence.

All marine turtle species are categorized as Totally Protected Animals under the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998 but this was disregarded by the authority. So I think Len Talif should stop talking on rampant illegal consumption of protected species. You have a case right under your nose but it was put aside just because the offenders are the police. What a joke!

国阵内部朋党操作 人联青噤若寒蝉

砂拉越人联党青年团日前通过报章向林冠英抛出10项问题让我感到费解，尤其是其中有关行动党南区家族政治的问题，更是令我感到莫名其妙。

我们民主行动党行事透明，施政方针以民为本，绝对经得起任何质问。 因此，前晚行动党在石角新农屋所举办的“冠英与你有约”的晚宴上，坦然开放宴会现场和群众交流，接受人民的审问。

行动党以如此别开生面的方式组办这次的晚宴主要是希望能以身作则，开创民主政治的新风气。 而且，在行动党的场地质问很安全，可保证绝对不会发生类似赵明福的事件，人联青不用畏缩害怕。 但令人费解的是，我们的晚宴时在7月30日举办，人联青却在31日等冠英离开砂州之後，才在报章上刊登那10大问题？

人联青不只没有胆量出席行动党的晚宴当面质问林冠英，连在报章上质问林冠英的胆量也没有。不然的话，为何要等到晚宴过后，冠英离开古晋之后才刊登他们的10大问题。

从人联青的10大问题，我们可以看出人联青似乎非常在意行动党在南砂有家族政治成分的存在，因此一而再，再而三的提醒人民注意，甚至还要告到火箭中央指南砂的行动党领袖的家族成员和公司职员都参与党的工作，掌管要职。

对此，我非常感谢人联青提出这课题，让人民有机会了解火箭的领袖是如何为民主事业，慷慨地付出。因为，参与民主行动党政治工作的的家族，只有付出和牺牲的份儿，有别于国阵的家族政治。 国阵的家族政治是在瓜分国家资源，剥削民脂民膏。

在今天的马来西亚，到处都是贪污滥权的阴影，赵明福便是死在滥权的魔掌下。试想在金钱挂帅的今时今日，有几个人愿意献身反对党的政治工作，去得罪权贵、面对强权的镇压与刁难、面对被控与可能坐牢的困境，甚致连住家也遭丢汽油弹的後果？

砂州行动党的元老们如林源新同志，张守江同志和我的父亲杨景美；西马行动党如最高领袖林吉祥同志，陈胜尧同志，卡巴星同志，还有其他州级领袖都以身作则，带动家属、投身反对党政治斗争，不惧坐牢的折磨，不计个人得失。

在东马，张守江同志，在众人不看好的情况下，把行动党带进砂州，虽然7次饮恨沙场，30多年来，始终不屈不饶，一路来都在为党招收新血，甚致把他自己的律师楼用来培养党年轻战将的场所，让自已的员工把时间用在为人民服务，为民主斗争。这是对民主进程中的一种承担，是一种付出！这一切的一切，与人联青所想像的家族政治掌控、瓜分国家财富根本是不同的两码事。

我本身也可以说是砂州行动党的第二代。 我父亲在早期80年代入党，我是21世纪入党。 到今天，我父亲仍然非常活跃于党务，也每次都有出席党会议，参与支部的决策。

人联青应该担心的是，国阵的领袖中现有的家族政治如何掌控政府工程，瓜分国家资源及侵犯人民的土地产权，如何滥用国家公款，导致国库空虚，使到许多急需的基本设施都无法兑现，人民已怨声载道。

人联青应该勇敢地针讨这种国阵内部的家族政治加以指责，为民伸冤。 但令人失望的是，人联青对国阵内部的裙带朋党操作，噤若寒蝉，不敢出声。反而将矛头对准献身民主斗争的家族，横加数落、肆意抹黑。

在东西马行动党的政治团队里，不乏夫妻搭挡、父子兵、兄弟情，但我们处事光明磊落，在执政的州属，施政以民为本，双手不沾民脂民膏，万民爱载。 林冠英就是最好的例子。

我想，人联青可能是在国阵裙带朋党风的熏淘下，满脑子充塞着掌控权力就是有经济利益的幻梦，所以就以小人之心度君子之腹，以为行动党执政也会像国阵那样，执政为了掌控瓜分国家经济利益。

人联青智商表现如此差劲，不辨是非、不明黑白，从政完全没有理念为基础，把权力相等于个人经济利益。 由此看来，人联青顶多也只能当土保党的点头随从。

马来西亚庆幸有这些行动党领袖的几个家族，能在恶劣的政治环境中，不屈不饶地领导民主斗争。 这些家族同仁，历尽强权政敌的逼害、抹黑、恐吓。 没有他们的付出，哪有今天行动党的壮大，那有今天出现了两线制的雏形？