DUN Questions for May, 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) How many parcels of land in Bako/Sejingkat area have been subject to Section 47 Gazette Notification of the Land Code (Chapter 81) 1958 since year 1974? Please give details of the land i.e. lot number and block number.

(b) What are the descriptions of the 52 parcels of land at Bako/Sejingkat area which had been recently uplifted from the Section 47 Land Code notification? Please give details of the land i.e. lot number and block number.

(b) As at April, 2009, how many parcels of land around Bako/Sejingkat area are still subject to Section 47 Land Code notification? Please give details of the land subject to Section 47 notification i.e. lot number and block number.

(c) When will the State Government uplift the remaining parcels of land around Bako/Sejingkat area which are still subjected to Section 47 Land Code notification?

(d) How will the existnece of the said Section 47 notification affect the landowners’ application for renewal/extension of the lease term and what measures will be taken by the state government to ensure that these landowners will not be deprived of their land and house?

(Written Answer)

2. Bertanya kepada YAB the Chief Minister:-

On 28.2.2009, turtle eggs were served as delicacies during the official police function in Batu Kawa, Kuching. Among the senior police officers present at the said dinner were Director of Internal Security and Public Order Husin Ismail, General Operations Force (GOF) Sarawak Brigade Commander Law Hong Soon and the Sarawak Commissioner of Police Mohmad Salleh.

(a) What is the status of investigation and action taken by the police and the Sarawak Forestry Corporation against the blatant consumption of turtle eggs by high ranking police officers during the function organized by the police on 28.2.2009 at Batu Kawa, Kuching?

(b) Whether charges have been proffered against the relevant police officers under the Wild Life Protection Ordinance, 1998 in Court?

(Oral Answer)

3. Bertanya kepada YB Minister of Environment and Public Health:-

For the past two decades, the vegetable wholesalers in Kuching do not have any proper trading site. Currently, the vegetable wholesalers are trading temporarily at the unsheltered car park of Stutong Community Market. Please state:-

(a) Whether the state government has any plan to build a permanent wholesale market at Mile 6, Jalan Kuching-Serian? If the answer is “yes”, what is the plan? Please furnish details as to the stages of implementation, the commencement date of the project, the contract sum involved and the estimated time of completion of the project;

(b) What is the cause of delay for the State Government to construct a permanent wholesale market in Kuching?

(c) If the answer in part (a) above is “no”, why?

(Written Answer)

4. 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) Does the State Government intend to remove the collapsed jetty and salvage the shipwreck which is said to be a historical treasure?

(b) If the answer is yes, what is the plan? If not, why?

(c) How are the contracts works to remove these obstructions given out?

(Oral Answer)


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

(a) From 2002 until 27.10.2008, a total of 80,933 hectares of state land in Sarawak have been directly alienated to private companies, please list out in detail e.g. company names, particulars of state land with lot number and acreage, the purpose of development etc. and the premium paid for each alienation;

(b) On 16.4.2007, the state government approved the direct alienation of Lots 3252, 3293, 3294, 3296, 3298 and 3300 all of Block 10 Kuching Central Land District to Arif Hemat Properties Sdn. Bhd., please state:

(i) Whether any premium is paid by Arif Hemat Properties Sdn. Bhd. to the State Government? If the answer is “Yes”, what is the amount payable by Arif Hemat Properties Sdn. Bhd. to the State Government? If the answer is “No”, why?

(ii) What is the basis for the State Government to alienate the said lands to Arif Hemat Properties Sdn. Bhd?

(iii) What is the plan of development on the said lands?

(Written Answer)

6. Bertanya kepada YAB the Chief Minister:-

On matter relating to the compassionate aid fund for the flood victims in Sarawak as promised by our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in January, 2009:-

(a) What is the total amount of allocation promised by the Federal Government for the flood victims in Sarawak?

(b) Whether the allocation in (a) above has been fully released to the Sarawak State Government? If the answer is yes, when? And why there are many flood victims who do not receive any monetary aid despite names submitted to the relevant authorities?

(c) How many flood affected families have yet to receive their monetary aid despite having their names submitted to the Resident Office and/or the State Welfare Department?

(d) Under the category of flood victims who put up at the evacuation centres, how many families have been given the monetary aid of RM500.00? Please state the number in the respective divisions in Sarawak and racial breakdown of recipients;

(e) Under the category of flood victims who put up with friends or relatives, how many families have been given the monetary aid of RM300.00? Please state the number in the respective divisions in Sarawak and racial breakdown of recipients.

(Written Answer)

7. Bertanya kepada YAB the Chief Minister:-

In Sarawak, the public transport system is so poorly managed that it is practically non-existent. Without a private vehicle, one could hardly travel within towns/cities in Sarawak not to say travel around the state.

(a) Does the State Government have any plans to build state-of-the art public transport systems in all the major towns and cities of Sarawak with a view to improve the current poor public transport system to benefit the people of Sarawak? If the answer is in the negative, why?

(b) What are the plans and what are the works carried out so far to implement state-of-the art public transport systems?

(c) When was the last feasibility study report and Environment Impact Assessment Report undertaken?

(Written Answer)

8. 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)

9. Bertanya Kepada YB the Minister of Urban Development and Tourism:-

Matters relating to flood mitigation projects in Kuching:-

(a) What are the mitigation projects underway to solve the flood problem faced by the people in Kuching?

(i) Please list the project names, the respective contract sum involved, the stages of implementation and the names of the engineers, contractors, subcontractors and other parties involved;

(ii) Please state whether the projects have been awarded according to public tenders. If not, why?

(b) The tender for the proposed Sungai Padungan mitigation project (Phase II) and Sungai Maong Paroh project was said to be opened in April, 2009:-

(i) How many tenders have been received in total? Please provide the tender list with details of company names and respective tender sums.

(ii) Has the State Governenment accepted any of the tenders received? If yes, which companies have been awarded with the projects and what are the contract sums awarded?

(iii) What are the respective commencement and completion dates of these two projects?

(Written Answer)

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

On matters concerning land:-

(a) Since the announcement of the New Land Policy in 2007, how many applications for extension of leases have been received and approved by the Lands & Surveys Department of Sarawak for lands with houses erected thereon around the areas of Kenyalang Park, Chawan Road and Foochow Road Nos. 1 and 2?

(b) Of the approved applications in part (a) above, how many applicants have paid the renewal premium? Please give details of the land i.e. lot number and block number.

(c) How many applications in part (a) above have been rejected? Please state the reasons and the details of the land i.e. lot number and block number.

(Written Answer)

My Unpleasant stay at Tune Hotel KL and LCCT Airport

After hearing much of Tune Hotel, I booked two nights stay at Tune Hotel KL and LCCT Airport during my trips to KL last week.

Room Rate:

You may notice at every Tune Hotel around Malaysia, a big advertisement board "RM9.90 per night" for 5 stars accomodation is placed at the entrance of the hotel. I was however, not sure whether I was just unlucky enough to get the so called special rate of "RM9.90"per night. Anyway, I paid RM112.24 per night for Tune Hotel KL and RM85.11 for Tune LCCT Airport. When my friends learned about the room rates that I had booked, many of them were of the opinion that the room rate is on the high side.

I was only later told by the Tune Hotel Staff that actually the RM9.90 per night rate only comes available March,2010. Have I been cheated?

Check In Time:

I spent my first night at Tune Hotel KL. When I arrived around 1.30 p.m. at Tune Hotel KL, I thought I could just check in and get relax in the room. Yet, I was told by the hotel staff that check in time is 2 p.m. There was nothing much I could do. So, I sat down at the lobby and wait until 2 p.m. for check in. As the clock ticked 2 p.m., queues were seen lining up for rooms check in. When the counter staff handed the room key, you will be asked to pay RM5 for each room key deposit and get reminded that the check out time is 10 a.m. the next day. That is two hours earlier than the usual hotel check out time.

Room Cleanliness:

After entering the room and switching on the room lights, I made a room tour. To my disappointment, the room was not properly cleaned. Ants are found around the wall edge and the basin area inside the toilet cum bathroom.

I noticed that the wall edge is full of dust too. Not only that, long hairs were also seen here and there. It is obvious the cleanliness of the hotel room needs improvement.

As for my stay at Tune Hotel LCCT Airport, I expect cleaner room since it was just declared open last month. For a less than a month hotel, one would expect everything in better condition.

Room Size:

The room size in Tune Hotel LCCT Airport is however much smaller when compares to the room size at Tune Hotel KL. I would think that if one brings along a big luggage, unless the big luggage is placed on the bed, it would not be possible to open it if it is placed on the floor. The walk space is big enough for one person. If two persons stay in the room, either one will have to give way. If one is above 100kgs and above, he or she may find it difficult to move around.

Room Cleanliness:

When I entered the toilet/cum bathroom, I found that the basin and the toilet bowl were not properly cleaned whereby yellow stains could still be seen. Especially the toilet bowl, it was too awful. I know that Tune Hotel management has been trying every means to save cost. But, I hope that the management would not be so stingy when it comes to provide toilet paper. In the room that I stayed, the toilet paper roll only left a bit after the previous room user. Luckily, I brought along one big roll with me just in case I need it. I think the house keeping staffs need to improve their services. For the toilet paper roll, if the left over toilet roll is almost finished, please provide an extra toilet paper roll too. Mind you, there is no intercom inside the room to request for house keeping service.

In view that the check out time is 10 a.m. the next morning, I therefore set my alarm clock at 8.45 a.m. to wake me up the night before I sleep.

Wake Up Call:

Unexpectedly, as early as 8 a.m. the next morning, I was awaked by the loud "Backstreet Boys" songs outside the room. At first, I thought it was some inconsiderate person from other room playing the loud music. As the clock ticks, the music gets louder. The loud music really annoyed me. I could not continue my sleep. So, I woke up and got ready for checking out.

After packing up and waiting for time to pass, I opened the room door trying to find out where the music comes from. I was extremely shocked that the music actually comes from the speakers that are placed along the corridor. I asked myself, has the hotel staff gone crazy? Don't they know that they are still guests in the rooms who try to get more rest? I was very mad at that moment. I could not understand why they did that to the guests by playing loud music at the early hour of the day.

When I approached the check out counter, I informed the staff that the music was too loud and requested them to turn down the volume. Guess what? The staff answered me that "the loud music was supposed to serve as morning call and we purposely turned the volume high". She even answered me, "you know that check out time is 10 a.m. " I was speechless when I heard her saying that. In my mind, I was thinking, not everyone is checking out that morning. I believe, there sure to be someone who may stay for few days in the hotel and still trying to get more sleep. I believe Tune Hotel Management has obviously intruded peoples' privacy.

Lobby Sofas:

After checking out and receiving my refund of RM5 deposit for the room key, I tried to take a sit at the lobby sofa. I could not believe what I saw. The sofas in the lobby area were stained with many flies. From far, it looks like sultanas being scattered on the sofas. That was the first time in my life seeing such scene. I did not dare to place my butt on it.

Why are there so many flies on the sofa, I asked the counter staff? She answered, "because outside is wet". Do you believe what she said? To me, either the sofas are dirty or smelly that attracts the flies. Furthermore, I also noticed that the lobby floors were very dirty too!

Stay Experience:

My stay experience at Tune Hotel is "unfriendly service, dirty and very small room space". Of course, I meet my friends "Ants" at Tune Hotel KL and "Flies" at Tune Hotel LCCT Airport.

Would you rate Tune Hotel 5 stars?

Flood Victims lodge police report

Source: http://sarawakupdate.com.my Date: 1.4.2009

Sixteen families from Batu Kawa resettlement crowded at the Simpang Tiga police station one-stop centre to lodge police report which they claimed they were cheated by empty promises from Deputy Prime Miniter, Datuk Sri Najib Tun Razak who had announced flood Relief Aid on February 12 to them.

Led by DAP State Assemblywoman for Pending, Violet Yong, the group waited for three hours for the 16 reports to be made. The reports was made slow as only one of the three computers were working.

Yong told reporters that the names of the victims had been submitted to the community leaders and the group even went to the Welfare office on Monday to enquire about the Aid but was told that there was no money.

They then proceed to Yong’s office yesterday morning seeking for help. Yong said the victim houses were flooded twice on January 12 and 29th.

She said Najib had made the announcement that Flood Aid Relief for each family between RM500 and RM300 would be handed out. “The weather is scorching hot now and the flood had been long past but there is no sign of any money coming in. Is this another of BN empty promises,” she asked.

Saying that if the money were not paid to the families, Yong said she would voice it out in the next dewan sitting. She said it was unreasonable and unfair for some families to get the money and some not to have any at all.

At the meantime, Yong said she will write to the relevant authority to find out the reason why the money was not given out to the victims who had suffered like the rest.

Due to such empty promises, that was why the voters punished the government by voting them out. “Enough is enough,” she added.