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!