Today is the last day to submit our questions to Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak for the coming sitting.
This round, 7 out of my 10 questions are posted to our Chief Minister. I hope he will not escape from answering my questions.
We, the opposition state representatives had encountered many times before, answers were not given to us by the relevant ministers including our Chief Minister regardless of our written request to the Dewan Secretary for it. Our Speaker, the custodian of the Hansard even informed in the August House that he has no control of the minister to compulsarily supply us with the answers to our questions.
As I understand, in Parliament, all questions which are not answered during questions times, written answers will be supplied later to the members. But, in Sarawak, we were told by the Speaker, if the questions are not in time to be answered, just count yourself bad luck, answer is not necessarily supply to the relevant member. The questions are considered lapsed if they were not answered during the one hour question time. This is how our council negeri function. The state government is very scared to tell the truth to the people. The BN leaders are using every means to black out information from public.
Below are my questions:-
This round, 7 out of my 10 questions are posted to our Chief Minister. I hope he will not escape from answering my questions.
We, the opposition state representatives had encountered many times before, answers were not given to us by the relevant ministers including our Chief Minister regardless of our written request to the Dewan Secretary for it. Our Speaker, the custodian of the Hansard even informed in the August House that he has no control of the minister to compulsarily supply us with the answers to our questions.
As I understand, in Parliament, all questions which are not answered during questions times, written answers will be supplied later to the members. But, in Sarawak, we were told by the Speaker, if the questions are not in time to be answered, just count yourself bad luck, answer is not necessarily supply to the relevant member. The questions are considered lapsed if they were not answered during the one hour question time. This is how our council negeri function. The state government is very scared to tell the truth to the people. The BN leaders are using every means to black out information from public.
Below are my questions:-
1. Bertanya kepada YAB the Chief Minister:-
On Matter relating to the allegations reported in the Tribun Pontianak on 14th August, 2008 edition that our Chief Minister as well as Harwood Timber Sdn. Bhd. a wholly owned unit of the state agency, Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation, has been linked to a timber trade scam involving illegal imports of Indonesion logs and which were then re-exported as Malaysian timber to other countries, including China, Taiwan, and Japan:-
(a) Whether the State Government has taken any step to investigate into the serious allegations made? If the answer is no, explain why the State Government been so quiet on the issue. If the answer is “yes”, what are the steps taken, and what are the findings?
(b) State how much timber of the ramin specie has been harvested in Sarawak and exported in the past 5 years.
(Written Answer)
2. Bertanya kepada YAB the Chief Minister:-
Matter relating to Murum Dam:-
(a) How much and who shall bear the compensation and resettlement costs to indigenous people for the construction of the Murum Dam?
(b) How does the state government assure the people that the cost foot up by Sarawak Energy Berhad to fund the Murum Dam will not eventually be passed on directly to the state government and hence the tax payers?
(b) How is Murum Dam going to benefit Sarawakians after its completion, including whether Sarawakians enjoy cheaper electricity tariff and other spin off benefits?
(Written Answer)
3. Bertanya kepada YAB the Chief Minister:-
On the Matter relating to the allegations of sexual assaults against women from the Penan Community, including statutory rape by personnel/agents of logging companies:-
(a) Whether any step has been taken by the State Government in respect of the allegations made in the news report by the NGO groups? If the answer is “yes”, state the steps taken to investigate the allegations and the findings as a result of such investigations.
(b) Whether the State Government has intention to set up an independent inquiry commission to investigate into the allegations made?
(i) If so, please disclose its terms of reference and the extent to which civil society will be able to be involved in the inquiry commission.
(ii) If no, why?
(c) Even if the findings may not be concrete, state the measures that will be implemented to avoid or reduce these incidents of sexual assaults against women from the Penan and other Communities.
(Written Answer)
4. Bertanya kepada YB the Minister of Housing:-
In view of the drastic increase in complaints from house buyers against the developers particularly for not building according to approved plans or in a workmanlike manner thereby resulting in serious defects, and
In view of the fact that there are many cases of abandoned housing projects which have caused great loss to the house buyers:-
(a) State whether the State Government has any intention to set up a housing tribunal as provided under the Housing Developers and Licensing Ordinance, 1993 to protect the interest of house buyers?
(i) If yes, when? Please also state the reasons for such delay.
(ii) If no, why?
(b) How many developers have been reprimanded under Code of Practice (COP) by Sarawak Housing Estate Association’s since its implementation?
(c) How many housing projects have been abandoned and what has the Government done to salvage the projects or to reduce the suffering and losses of the Purchasers.
(Written Answer)
5. Bertanya kepada YB the Minister of Housing:-
(a) State the number of complaints which the Ministry of Housing received from the public against developers in Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri during the years 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008? Please state the names of the developers complained and the categories of complaint.
(c) What actions have been taken by the Ministry of Housing to address these complaints?
(d) How many developers in Sarawak have been blacklisted and/or suspended by the Ministry of Housing over the years 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008? Please state the names of the developers and the period of suspension for each case.
(Written Answer)
6. Bertanya Kepada YAB the Chief Minister and Minister for Planning and Resource Management:-
(a) How many acreage of state land has been directly alienated to private developers over the years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008? Please provide the names of these developers.
(b) State the amount of premiums paid to the State Government arising from each of these direct alienation? Please list out in detail eg. Company names, particulars of state land with lot number and acreage etc and amount of premium paid for each alienation.
(c) Please state whether there is such an alienation of state land of master Lot 3111 Block 10 Kuching Central Land District at Jalan Ong Tiang Swee, Kuching to private developers? If the answer is in the affirmative:-
(i) what is the amount of premium paid by the private developer(s) to the State Government?
(ii) Please furnish the name of the private developers.
(iii) State the criteria or policy in determining the direct alienation of state lands to the private developer(s)?
(Written Answer)
7. Bertanya Kepada YAB the Chief Minister:-
On matter relating to basic amenities in rural areas of Sarawak:-
(a) What is the percentage of rural households in the respective divisions of Sarawak receiving utility electrification and clean water? Please state the places in Sarawak which have no basic piped water supply and utility electrification?
(b) What is the ratio of healthcare providers in respect of the number of population in rural Sarawak? What are the plans of the State Government to improve the current ratio?
(c) What is the ratio of children living in villages in rural Sarawak who go to primary and secondary schools with respect to the rural population in the state? Please provide in details on the number of children having to board in hostels in order to receive basic education from the age of 7 years old until the age of 17 years old. Does the state government intent to provide free transport services for rural school-going children between their respective villages and schools?
(Written Answer)
8. Bertanya kepada YB the Minister for Infrastructure:-
During the Budget Speech 2009, the Prime Minister YAB Datuk Sri Ahmad Badawi announced that an additional RM3.3 billion has been allocated to the State of Sarawak for infrastructure development:-
(a) State the amount of funding from the said budget for Pending constituency. Please state the reasons for this amount.
(b) State the names of the constituencies which have been allocated with such funding and the amount allocated for each constituency.
(b) With the additional allocation of federal fund, state whether the State Government has any plan to improve and/or upgrade the existing drains (from earth drains to concrete drains) at Kampung Sungai Apong Baru, Kuching in the next 2 years? If the answer is “yes”, when? If the answer is “no”, why?
(Written Answer)
9. Bertanya kepada YAB the Chief Minister:-
On matter relating to Sarawak State Civil Service:-
(a) State the number including the racial break down of intake of new state civil servants for the years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008;
(b) State the racial break down of the state civil servants in each state government departments, local councils and statutory bodies.
(c) Has the Government any plan to reduce the disparity of intake between the bumiputera and non-bumiputera intake, so as to reflect the racial composition of the population of Sarawak. If so, state the details. If not, why?
(Oral Answer)
10. Bertanya Kepada YAB the Chief Minister and Minister for Planning and Resource Management:-
On land alienated for oil palm planting:
(a) How many acreage of state land has been alienated for oil palm plantations over the years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008? Please provide the names of the oil palm companies granted with such state lands.
(b) State the amount of premium received by the State Government for each of the alienation? State the amount of premium due and payable, if any. Please list out in detail eg. Company names, particulars of state land with lot number and acreage etc and amount of premium paid for each alienation.
(c) What are the criteria/criterion adopted in determining the granting of these state lands?
(d) How many acreage of land has been planted with oil palm in Sarawak and the future plan on oil palm planting, in view of the recent drop in price?
(Written Answer)
On Matter relating to the allegations reported in the Tribun Pontianak on 14th August, 2008 edition that our Chief Minister as well as Harwood Timber Sdn. Bhd. a wholly owned unit of the state agency, Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation, has been linked to a timber trade scam involving illegal imports of Indonesion logs and which were then re-exported as Malaysian timber to other countries, including China, Taiwan, and Japan:-
(a) Whether the State Government has taken any step to investigate into the serious allegations made? If the answer is no, explain why the State Government been so quiet on the issue. If the answer is “yes”, what are the steps taken, and what are the findings?
(b) State how much timber of the ramin specie has been harvested in Sarawak and exported in the past 5 years.
(Written Answer)
2. Bertanya kepada YAB the Chief Minister:-
Matter relating to Murum Dam:-
(a) How much and who shall bear the compensation and resettlement costs to indigenous people for the construction of the Murum Dam?
(b) How does the state government assure the people that the cost foot up by Sarawak Energy Berhad to fund the Murum Dam will not eventually be passed on directly to the state government and hence the tax payers?
(b) How is Murum Dam going to benefit Sarawakians after its completion, including whether Sarawakians enjoy cheaper electricity tariff and other spin off benefits?
(Written Answer)
3. Bertanya kepada YAB the Chief Minister:-
On the Matter relating to the allegations of sexual assaults against women from the Penan Community, including statutory rape by personnel/agents of logging companies:-
(a) Whether any step has been taken by the State Government in respect of the allegations made in the news report by the NGO groups? If the answer is “yes”, state the steps taken to investigate the allegations and the findings as a result of such investigations.
(b) Whether the State Government has intention to set up an independent inquiry commission to investigate into the allegations made?
(i) If so, please disclose its terms of reference and the extent to which civil society will be able to be involved in the inquiry commission.
(ii) If no, why?
(c) Even if the findings may not be concrete, state the measures that will be implemented to avoid or reduce these incidents of sexual assaults against women from the Penan and other Communities.
(Written Answer)
4. Bertanya kepada YB the Minister of Housing:-
In view of the drastic increase in complaints from house buyers against the developers particularly for not building according to approved plans or in a workmanlike manner thereby resulting in serious defects, and
In view of the fact that there are many cases of abandoned housing projects which have caused great loss to the house buyers:-
(a) State whether the State Government has any intention to set up a housing tribunal as provided under the Housing Developers and Licensing Ordinance, 1993 to protect the interest of house buyers?
(i) If yes, when? Please also state the reasons for such delay.
(ii) If no, why?
(b) How many developers have been reprimanded under Code of Practice (COP) by Sarawak Housing Estate Association’s since its implementation?
(c) How many housing projects have been abandoned and what has the Government done to salvage the projects or to reduce the suffering and losses of the Purchasers.
(Written Answer)
5. Bertanya kepada YB the Minister of Housing:-
(a) State the number of complaints which the Ministry of Housing received from the public against developers in Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri during the years 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008? Please state the names of the developers complained and the categories of complaint.
(c) What actions have been taken by the Ministry of Housing to address these complaints?
(d) How many developers in Sarawak have been blacklisted and/or suspended by the Ministry of Housing over the years 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008? Please state the names of the developers and the period of suspension for each case.
(Written Answer)
6. Bertanya Kepada YAB the Chief Minister and Minister for Planning and Resource Management:-
(a) How many acreage of state land has been directly alienated to private developers over the years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008? Please provide the names of these developers.
(b) State the amount of premiums paid to the State Government arising from each of these direct alienation? Please list out in detail eg. Company names, particulars of state land with lot number and acreage etc and amount of premium paid for each alienation.
(c) Please state whether there is such an alienation of state land of master Lot 3111 Block 10 Kuching Central Land District at Jalan Ong Tiang Swee, Kuching to private developers? If the answer is in the affirmative:-
(i) what is the amount of premium paid by the private developer(s) to the State Government?
(ii) Please furnish the name of the private developers.
(iii) State the criteria or policy in determining the direct alienation of state lands to the private developer(s)?
(Written Answer)
7. Bertanya Kepada YAB the Chief Minister:-
On matter relating to basic amenities in rural areas of Sarawak:-
(a) What is the percentage of rural households in the respective divisions of Sarawak receiving utility electrification and clean water? Please state the places in Sarawak which have no basic piped water supply and utility electrification?
(b) What is the ratio of healthcare providers in respect of the number of population in rural Sarawak? What are the plans of the State Government to improve the current ratio?
(c) What is the ratio of children living in villages in rural Sarawak who go to primary and secondary schools with respect to the rural population in the state? Please provide in details on the number of children having to board in hostels in order to receive basic education from the age of 7 years old until the age of 17 years old. Does the state government intent to provide free transport services for rural school-going children between their respective villages and schools?
(Written Answer)
8. Bertanya kepada YB the Minister for Infrastructure:-
During the Budget Speech 2009, the Prime Minister YAB Datuk Sri Ahmad Badawi announced that an additional RM3.3 billion has been allocated to the State of Sarawak for infrastructure development:-
(a) State the amount of funding from the said budget for Pending constituency. Please state the reasons for this amount.
(b) State the names of the constituencies which have been allocated with such funding and the amount allocated for each constituency.
(b) With the additional allocation of federal fund, state whether the State Government has any plan to improve and/or upgrade the existing drains (from earth drains to concrete drains) at Kampung Sungai Apong Baru, Kuching in the next 2 years? If the answer is “yes”, when? If the answer is “no”, why?
(Written Answer)
9. Bertanya kepada YAB the Chief Minister:-
On matter relating to Sarawak State Civil Service:-
(a) State the number including the racial break down of intake of new state civil servants for the years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008;
(b) State the racial break down of the state civil servants in each state government departments, local councils and statutory bodies.
(c) Has the Government any plan to reduce the disparity of intake between the bumiputera and non-bumiputera intake, so as to reflect the racial composition of the population of Sarawak. If so, state the details. If not, why?
(Oral Answer)
10. Bertanya Kepada YAB the Chief Minister and Minister for Planning and Resource Management:-
On land alienated for oil palm planting:
(a) How many acreage of state land has been alienated for oil palm plantations over the years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008? Please provide the names of the oil palm companies granted with such state lands.
(b) State the amount of premium received by the State Government for each of the alienation? State the amount of premium due and payable, if any. Please list out in detail eg. Company names, particulars of state land with lot number and acreage etc and amount of premium paid for each alienation.
(c) What are the criteria/criterion adopted in determining the granting of these state lands?
(d) How many acreage of land has been planted with oil palm in Sarawak and the future plan on oil palm planting, in view of the recent drop in price?
(Written Answer)
