Friday, May 23, 2008

行动党筹款赈灾

为配合民主行动党全国发动的中国四川地震与缅甸风灾赈灾筹款运动,我们将于明日(24日),早上8时至10时30分,前往古晋达闽再也菜市场向公众进行筹款赈灾活动。
而同样的,在周日(25日)早上8时至10时30分,我们也将在古晋肯雅兰菜市场进行筹款赈灾活动。
这项筹款活动时间紧迫,我们将于周一(26日)把筹得的款项汇往行动党中央处理。希望公众伸出援手、献出爱心,踊跃支持行动党的这项筹款赈灾活动。

English Version:

In conjuction with the launching of DAP National a week-long nation wide donation drive for China and Burma Disaster Victims, DAP Kuching shall hold two fundraising exercises this weekend:-

1. On 24th May, 2008 (Saturday), we shall show our presence at Tabuan Jaya Wet Market from 8 a.m. until 10.30 a.m.

2. On 25th May, 2008 (Sunday), we shall move around Kenyalang Market from 8 a.m. until 10.30. a.m.

All funds collected will be handed over to DAP National Treasurer on Monday. We sincerely hope that the public and DAP supporters could extend their love and supports through DAP donation drive towards disasters relief for victims in China and Burma.

**Receipts would be issued on request.




Tuesday, May 20, 2008

肯雅兰菜市场停车场水管漏水


肯雅兰菜市场停车场水管漏水一周,污水像小瀑布涌下,导致鱼内脏等满地,臭味难当,惟南市市政局却为派人抢修。
我接获小贩的投诉,指该市场停车场处一排水管漏水的情况已一周,但南市市政局却没有派人前往抢修。我已将有关事项反映予南市市政局的相关负责人,希望该市政局尽速派员前往进行维修工作。
市政局这种态度,实在令人无法接受。市政局于该菜市场设有一个办事处,并有职员负责该市场的事务。然而,却出现停车场出水管漏水一周的事件。
有关漏水的水管主要是排除楼上小贩摊位的污水。然而,这次的漏水事件也造成一些废物,如鱼内脏等满地,且也发出异味,极不卫生。

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Dewan Sitting-14th May, 2008

Surprisingly, many turned up in the public gallery this morning to witness the happening in today's dewan sitting. Has it been because of the Wikipedia's publication against our YAB Chief Minister which Chong brought up during his defense speech on the motion moved by Jabu yesterday afternoon to suspend him? Or has it been because today's sitting was too interesting without Chong's presence?


This morning, Jabu "sang" his winding up speech with flat tune without any interjection from the opposition bench. The BN YB's seemed delightful as they had accomplised their mission to remove Chong from today's sitting and the coming sitting in November.



Monday, May 12, 2008

喝止赌风,州政府讲一套做一套

砂州政府对州内博彩业征收10%的赌博税,美其名是要阻止赌风的滋长,但另一方面,却允许“大马彩”进军砂州。显示了州政府在喝止赌风滋长的行动上讲一套、做一套的方式。

我在上周五召开的砂州议会会议中,参与辩论感谢州元首施政演词时质疑砂州政府打击赌风的诚意。

政府多年前对本州的博彩业实施10%赌博税,说是要防止赌风的滋长,然而,现在“大马彩”的销售柜台可以在古晋的肯雅兰、京城中心及石角新市镇见到。

我们不明白,州政府为何却允许“大马彩”进入砂州营业?

州政府这样自相矛盾的做法令人感到失望。这显示了州政府根本不是关心是否人民赌博得情况严重与否,政府关心的是征收更多的税务、想人民榨取更多的金钱。

在西马,所有州属都没有实行10%的赌博税,但为何我们的州政府却要向人民征收赌博税?

为什么砂州政府渴望这么多钱?是否我们的州政府需要钱来让我们首席部长的私人专机飞行?

居于州政府实施赌博税的真正目的不是在于削弱赌风,所以我促请政府取消10%的赌博税。

南市市长的“真命天子

在不久前,陈康南表示他将会在第12届全国选举后揭晓南市市长的“真命天子”,可是为何迄今却未有消息?
我于上周五在州议会会议中参与辩论感谢州元首施政演词时,要求砂州第一副首长丹斯里陈康南医生告诉州议会,为何古晋南市市长的委任迄今尚未有定案?
第12届全国选举投票日是落于今年3月8日,迄今已是62天,南市市长的人选却没有消息。这到底是不是与南市市政局的“风水“问题有关,而导致没人敢接任南市市长职。
无论如何,我希望陈康南能给予大家一个答案。

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Direct Alienation of State Lands to Naim Cendera Holdings Berhad and its subsidiaries

In my debate speech on Motion of Thanks to TYT of Sarawak delivered on 9.5.2008, I talked at length on "Alienation of State Lands" in Sarawak to Naim Cendera Holdings Berhad and its subsidiaries without any open tender system. There were 260 acres in Kuching Division and 101 acres of lands in Samarahan Division alienated to Naim Cendera Holdings Berhad and its subsidiaries for the years 2001 until 2006. For lands in Kuching Division, one acre costs RM65,140.88 whereas for lands in Samarahan Division it costs RM38,771.26 per acre. Don't you think it is too cheap to be believed!!

When I spoke on the particular issue, though our YAB Chief Minister was not in the Dewan itself, I believe he listened tentatively in his office on the 1st floor of the Dewan.

The moment I said that Naim Cendera is closely related to our YAB Chief Minister, the Speaker immediately stopped me. How unfair as if our YAB Chief Minsiter is above all law and untouchable! Nevertheless, I continued with what I have to say without fear or favour. I was sent in to the State Assembly by the rakyat to raise the voices and grouses of the people. My job is not to sing praises on our YAB Chief Minister.

Below is the full text of my speech on “Alienation of State Lands”:-

Tuan Speaker,

My first issue is on alienation of State Lands.

Lands in Sarawak belong to all Sarawakian and not to certain companies which are politically linked to our state Barisan National leaders. Distribution of state resources including state lands should be transparent and more people orientated through public tender system rather than based on political favour or cronyisms.

However, we have seen that vast areas of state lands in Sarawak with high commercial value have been alienated to certain cronies companies without going through the process of open tender or public tender. It should be condemned if our state resources have been used by cronies companies to generate private profits. This will only drained money away from the state. Our people can never be rich if our state administration governance does not subscribe to transparency integrity, equal opportunity and social economic justice.

Tuan Speaker,

The general public view is that there are only few selected companies which enjoy the alienation of state lands for development at a very low price which is way under the market value. Amongst them, Naim Cendera is one stark example. The 32 acres of state land in Batu Lintang, Kuching which was government’s quarters area had also been alienated to Naim Cendera. And I was told that eviction letters had been issued to those staying in government quarters.

Tuan Speaker,

Do you know how much acreage of state lands in Sarawak have been alienated to Naim Cendera Holdings Bhd and its subsidiaries for the years 2001 until 2006 without any open tender? From the general answer which I had obtained, in Kuching division alone, the land areas are 105 hectares or 260 acres and in Samarahan division, the land areas are 41 hectares or 101 acres, therefore the total acreage is 146 hectares or 361 acres. The total land premium involved for a total of 361 acres of land was only RM20,852,526.02 of which RM16,936,628.00 is the land premium for 260 acres of land in Kuching and RM3,915,898.02 is the land premium involved for land in Samarahan of 101 acres.

If we do a simple calculation, RM16,936,628.00 for about 260 acres of lands in Kuching, per acre costs about RM65,140.88 only. This is truly under price! As for lands in Samarahan, RM3,915,898.02 for about 101 acres of lands, per acre is only costs about RM38,771.26. Again, no doubt, extremely cheap deal for Naim Cendera. Therefore, it is less than RM70,000.00 per acre to get the lands in Kuching and RM40,000.00 per acre to get the lands in Samarahan from Sarawak state government. Can you find such cheap land deals in Kuching, less than RM70,000.00 for one acre of land in Kuching? It is way under price and just too cheap to believe! No one can find it but Naim Cendera Holdings Bhd and its subsidiaries can get it from the state government through direct alienation. Does this include 32 acres of land in the centre of Kuching at Batu Lintang Area? We would like to know what is the premium Naim Cendera is paying given that it is a prime property in the city of Kuching. Whether Naim Cendera also got the same land deals in Batu Lintang at the price of RM70,000.00 per acre? Why are Naim Cendera Holdings Bhd and its subsidiaries so special that they can get such special price for lands in Sarawak?

Tuan Speaker,

Most of us would know land deals in Kuching town area can easily fetch the price of at least RM1 million to RM2.5 million per acre. As you know, the market value for 0.04 acres of land in Kenyalang Park is already worth RM42,000.00 as valued by Land & Survey Department taking into consideration that it is a low-cost housing area. So, an acre land in Kenyalang Park is already valued at RM1.5 million per acre.

And here, we see that no one but Naim Cendera Holdings Bhd and its subsidiaries could get land deal for ridiculously low price at RM70,000.00 per acre.

Tuan Speaker,

Let say one acre of land within 20 kilometre of Kuching area is valued at the conservative market price of RM500,000.00 and Naim Cendera has 260 acres of land in Kuching alienated by the State Government, so we are taking about RM130,000,000.00 (i.e. 260 acres multiply by RM500k) in value. But, Naim Cendera only pays RM16,936,628.00 for the alienation.

With these land deals, how could Naim Cendera Holdings Bhd not make tens of millions or even billions of ringgit and live up to its billing as the “Strong Man of Borneo”. Therefore, I believe many Sarawakians share the same views as I that, there is nothing to boost about or proud of the so called achievement of “Naim Cendera group”. Comparing RM130,000,000.00 to RM16,936,628.00, our state has lost out at least RM113,063,372.00 if the alienation of state lands was done through an open tender system where everyone can entitle a fair right to bid for the same. In other words, Naim Cendera groups has made at least RM113,063,372.00 in profit through alienation process. Remember, RM113,063,372.00 has not taken into account the profits made from development and through sales of any properties erected thereon. Imagine, this is only one transaction which we are talking about, needless to say about the amount of profits made by Naim Cendera Group through the hundreds of acres of state lands which had been alienated to them over the years.

Tuan Speaker,

By right, sales of lands or alienation of state lands should have been through open tender to realize the highest price so that there is greater generation of revenue to the state coffer. However, we have seen that our state government does not utilize our land resources to its fullest to realize the best income to our state. Remember, all the resources in the state belongs to each and every one of us Sarawakian and should not be exploited for the benefits of one or two companies that easily “cari makan senang” and which had “strong connection” with the state Barisan National leaders.

Therefore, I hereby urge our state government to be more transparent and accountable to its action by implementing open tender system so that all Sarawakian can truly enjoy the natural resources of the State through the revenue that is generated from open tender sale of state lands. If Sarawak State Government is the government for the people, of the people, and by the people, the state Barisan National leaders should have the conscious to use their best endeavors to make the state richer and its people richer, and should not only making the Barisan National political leaders’ crony companies richer. I believe Naim Cendera group is closely related to our YAB Chief Minister as the said group of company belongs to our Chief Minister’s cousins namely Abdul Hamed Bin Sepawi and Hasmi Bin Hasnan. Thus, as the head of the state, our YAB the Chief Minister owes a full explanation to the rakyat as to why Naim Cendera group can have the best treatment from the state which ordinary you and me will never ever be entitled a chance to share.