Hunting for suitable sites to build Multisport Court

Late yesterday afternoon, I received a fax dated 25.4.2008 from Pejabat Belia Dan Sukan (Bahagian Kuching) addressed personally to me informing that the Ministry of Youth and Sports intend to build two (2) Multisport Court in every State Constituentcy.

Frankly speaking, it is very rare for us as opposition representatives to receive such kind of letter. I was rather excited when I read the first two paragraphs of the letter.

I understand that be it Basketball, volleyball, floor hockey. Badminton, pickle-ball, soft, paddle or action tennis can all be played on a Multisport court.

I was asked to identify few suitable sites either within a housing estate or kampung under my constituentcy i.e. Pending N.10 to the ministry for their consideration and approval. The letter also mentioned that consideration shall be first given to those areas which do not yet have any sports facilities. Other than that, existing sports grounds which require any upgrading works to be done can also be submitted to the said ministry for consideration.

There are some guildlines to follow:-

First, the site should be a state land where it does not involve any acquisition process;

Secondly, the area should measure at least the size of a tennis court or about 5000 square feet;

Thirdly, the site should not require much earth filling works to be done.

While reading the 3rd paragraph of the letter, I was rather annoyed. I was asked to send my proposals (if any) to the department before 29th April, 2008, which is today. I am not a superwoman. I do not think anyone could do it too within a day where much information and feedback need to be collected from the grounds to identity a suitable location before submission.

As I do not want my consituents to miss out this opportunity just because dead line cannot be met, I had immediately after finished reading the letter, called up the said office to ask for extension of time to submit my proposal.

I hope that if anyone of you do come across a particular site within your housing estate which in your view is suitable to build a Multisport Court, please feel free to let me know.

休闲公园失修

公园秋千草地出现积水坑洞
BDC第F4巷居民投诉当地休闲公园没获得得该市政局妥善管理，虽曾多次向当局做出反映，不过遗憾的的是一直没得到当局理会。

该地休闲公园基本设施没获得保养，对到该公园进行休闲活动的居民带來诸多不便。我在接获投诉后也前往实地巡视，发现该公园草坡多处出现凹凸不平的坑洞、积水、儿童娱乐设施处的草地出现坑洞积水、水笼头不翼而飞、垃圾没有获得清理。该公园范围内所种植的树木长满刺，对前往休闲的人士或儿童构成危险，由于儿童在该公园玩乐时，如太靠近树木，很容易被树上的刺所伤，因此，居民们希望当局能砍去现有的树木而改种其他适当的植物。

此外，基於公园的灯炮已坏，在晚间时段没灯光照明，显得阴暗，成为一些可疑人士聚首的地方，且我们在该处凉亭也发现强力胶罐的盖子，显示了有人在那吸强力胶。

根据当地居民反映，曾多次向砂人联党领袖袖及南市市议员反映有关事宜，不过，一直没有下文，这让他们感到失望。我将会致函南市市政局要求关注此事，并促请当局积极处理，改善该公园设施。当地居民有缴付门牌税，因此，当局应恳切关注当地的民生问题，而不是抱持不理不睬的态度来对待人民。
滑板处的草地极烂，在这玩乐的孩童必整身泥浆

公园草坡坑洞处处，凹凸不平

公园内水龙头不翼而飞

公园凉亭发现有强力胶罐的盖子

Sales Tax Collected from Lottery Tickets

Most of us only know that there is a 10% tax imposed when purchasing lottery tickets but as to how much sales tax had been collected by the Sarawak State government over the years, it remains a "BIG" questionmark.

We, as Sarawakian cum taxpayers, have the right to demand for the answer.

I asked the Chief Minister of Sarawak cum Minister of Finance in the State Assembly on how much sales tax had been collected by the State Government from lottery tickets for the respective years of 2000 until 2006. And here I have the answer for you:

Year 2000 is RM37,444,173.05
Year 2001 is RM38,425,759.40
Year 2002 is RM39,783,929.25
Year 2003 is RM42,740,097.00
Year 2004 is RM78,154,187.30
Year 2005 is RM94,352,199.80
Year 2006 is RM85,887,379.00 (Unaudited)

Total: RM416,787,724.80

I believe many of you share the same sentiment as me i.e. Where has all the money gone? Has it been settled down in the pockets of the " Sarawak White Shark" and its cronies?

《万人注册、全民参政》开跑了！

行动党古晋区发动的《万人注册、全民参政》开跑了！我们于昨日（4月20日）在古晋三哩菜市场进行首轮的选民登记活动，获得市民的热烈响应。
我们在本周六（4月26日）晚上7时30分开始，也将在桑路（JLN SONG）设立服务柜台，帮民众进行登记成为选民。
此外，未注册成为选民的人士也可以在周一至周五到古晋夏威夷花园的行动党朋岭区服务中心（电话：082-330525）或宗林园的古晋服务中心（电话：082-414531）进行登记成为选民。

10 Questions Submitted for Coming Dewan Sitting

The coming Sarawak Dewan Sitting shall commence from 5th, May, 2008 until 14th May, 2008. All State Assemblymen/Assemblywomen have been directed by the Dewan's Secretary to submit their questions on or before 16th April, 2008. Each member can only raise maximum 10 questions. This time, I have requested for 9 written answers and 1 oral answer to my questions.

The following are the 10 questions which I have submitted to the Dewan's Secretary this morning:-

1. Bertanya kepada YB the Minister for Environment and Public Health:

The Minister for Environment and Public Health informed earlier that the State Government plans to build tyre-recycling plants in all major towns in the state to curb the indiscriminate discarding of used tyres:

(a) Please inform whether the plan has been implemented? If yes,

i) when is the project completed;

ii) what is the cost involved for constructing each plant;

iii) Please provide the names of the contractors, subcontractors and others involved for constructing each plant;

iv) State whether the project had been awarded according to public tenders. If not, why?

(b) Please state the names of the operators who run the plants.

(c) State the amount of state funds expended/to be expended in the project.

(Written Answer)

2. Bertanya Kepada YAB the Chief Minister :

a. Under the 9th Malaysia Plan, how many projects have been approved by the State Government for implementation within the constituencies of Padungan, Pending, Batu Lintang, Kota Sentosa and Batu Kawa.
b. Please furnish the following details for each project:-
(i) the commencement date;
(ii) the contract sum involved;
(iii) the stages of implementation;
(iv) the names of the engineers, contractors, subcontractors and other parties involved.
(Written Answer)

3. Bertanya kepada YB the Minister for Infrastructure:

On matter relating to upgrading the existing drains from earth drains to concrete drains at Kampung Sungai Apong Baru, Kuching, MBKS informed that the council had submitted a bid of RM1.5 million (under the 9MP) on 17th January, 2005 to the State Planning Unit and Jabatan Ketua Menteri for funding of the project:-

a. Please inform whether the State Government has approved the grants. If the answer is “yes”, when?

b. If the answer is “no”, why?

c. If the answer is “Pending Approval”, what are the reasons for the delay of more than 3 years in processing and approving the funding?

(Written Answer)

4. Bertanya kepada YAB the Chief Minister:

On matters concerning the Chief Minister, Ministers, Assistant Ministers etc:

(a) How much entertainment and traveling allowances have been paid to the Chief Minister, Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Political Secretaries and Heads of Departments for the respective years of 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007? Please state under the respective names of the Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Political Secretaries and Heads of Departments and the sum involved.

(b) Please state how much the State Government has paid for electricity, water and telephone bills for the residences of the Chief Minister, Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Political Secretaries and Heads of Departments for the respective years of 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007? (Please state under their respective names).

(c) For the respective years of 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 state the vacation entitlements of the Chief Minister, Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Political Secretaries and Heads of Departments and the sums expended by the state Government on them respectively.

(Written Answer)


5. Bertanya kepada YB the Minister for Environment and Public Health:-

Much solid waste and refuse produced everyday in industrial, commercial and residential areas are seen ended up in rivers and waterways causing clogs, pollution and other environment and health hazards (for e.g. Sungai Tabuan Jaya):-

b. What immediate measures will be taken by the State Government in cleaning up rivers and water ways in Sarawak to restore and protect its water quality, biological integrity and natural beauty for all generations?

c. How often does the authority concerned clean up the rivers and waterways in Sarawak?

d. What is the total sum involved and allocated annually for river cleaning works to ensure cleanliness of the rivers in Sarawak.

(Written Answer)

6. Bertanya kepada YAB the Chief Minister

a. Please list out the name of the projects that SEDC has been involved in during the years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 and the contact sums involved for each project.

b. Please provide the names of the contractors, subcontractors and others involved in SEDC projects during the said period.

c. State whether all the projects had been awarded according to public tenders. If not, why?

(Written Answer)

7. Bertanya kepada YB the Minister of Social Development and Urbanization:-

a. How much state and federal funds have been allocated by the Welfare Department for the subsistence payment to children, single parents, pensioners, the disabled and the elderly for years 2007? Please state the respective category of recipients of welfare fund.

b. What are the amount of aid per month given by the Welfare Department to children, single parents, pensioners, the disabled and the elderly under the Welfare Assistance Scheme?

c. Apart from giving monthly welfare funds, what other Welfare Assistance Schemes are implemented by the State Government for the children, single parents, pensioners, the disabled and the elderly?

(Written Answer)


8. Bertanya kepada YAB the Chief Minister and the Minster of Finance:-

On matters relating to sales tax:

(a) How did the State Government utilize the sales tax collected from sales of lottery tickets from year 2000 to year 2006 totaling RM416,787,724.80? Please breakdown by year of sales tax utilized.

(b) State the amount of sales tax collected from tyres since its introduction and the manner these revenue collected had been utilized.

(c) Why should the state Government impose sales tax on tyres, be they sale of tyres or otherwise.

(Written Answer)


9. Bertanya kepada YB the Minister of Social Development and Urbanisation

On crimes against women:

(a) Please state the statistics on crimes against the female gender for years 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 in the respective divisions in Sarawak. Please break down the figure for each category of crimes committed against female gender.

(b) How many of the suspects in (a) above were actually detained and charged in Court?

(Oral Answer)


10. To ask YAB the Chief Minister:

On matter relating to flood mitigation:

(a) State the amount (i) approved and (ii) expended under the 8th Malaysia Plan and the 9th Malaysia Plan for flood mitigation in the respective divisions in Sarawak.

(b) What measures have been and will be taken by the State Government to reduce flooding in Kuching Division.

(c) State the amount of losses to the State Government and the rakyat due to flood in Kuching Division during the respective years of 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

(Written Answer)

陈康南住家遭匪闯入打劫

贵为砂州第一副首长陈康南的私邸续部长达勿阿都拉曼与州议员莎丽花哈茜达之后，私邸也被匪徒闯入抢劫。近来这些部长及州议员的住家频频被劫，说明了砂州的治安问题已经严重亮起红灯。百姓已经对砂州的治安情况缺乏安全感。连掌管砂州治安事务的陈康南的住家也不安全，叫人民如何能有安全感？
砂州治安败坏的问题不是近期才有，但当民主行动党多次提出砂州治安败坏的问题，然而，国阵政府却似乎不加理会，且还指责行动党在破坏砂州的声誉、吓坏外资。
现在陈康南本身的住家被劫，他才说将代表州政府会见州警察总监，了解砂州的治安问题。作为负责砂州治安事务的部长，陈康南私邸发生匪徒入屋行劫事件，已经是一个讽刺，然而在自己的住家发生这样的事后，才说要向州警察总监了解砂州的治安问题，更是另一项大讽刺。
难道陈康南作为负责砂州治安事务的部长，之前对砂州治安败坏的事件都一无所知？而到自己住家被匪徒闯入行劫后才如梦初醒的要向警察总监了解？为何当百姓都对治安败坏感到提心吊胆时，陈康南当时没有表明要代表州政府会见警察总监，而在本身住宅被匪徒闯入行劫才来会见警察总监？
陈康南作为处理治安事务的部长，早就应该会见警察总监，商讨如何改善砂州治安，还人民一个安居乐业的环境，而不是由其党青年团收集人民签名来反映，以让其党候选人捞取选票的政治秀。