My Dun Speech for November, 2009 on SALCO

SALCO

Tuan Speaker,

Since so much has been said about SCORE. I wish to seek some clarification on the SCORE.

I understand that in order to lure investment to Sarawak, the government is offering, through SESCO, very cheap electricity tariffs to these companies.

However, I was told that the system costs of electricity generation and transmission is approximately RM0.20 per unit.

In one of the business news reports, it was reported that Sarawak Aluminium Company Sdn Bhd is negotiating with the Government of Sarawak for the supply of electricity at the rate of RM0.06 – RM0.08 per kWh and that they are looking at the supply of 1,400 Mega Watts. Even at that price of RM0.10 per unit, that will be approximate RM0.10 per unit (kWh) below SESCO's costs of electricity production.

At such rate, we are talking about SESCO selling to SALCO at an approximate loss of RM1 billion a year. Coincidentally, SALCO is a joint venture between Rio Tinto and CMS Berhad. Why are we selling electricity to SALCO so cheaply while other industrialists and businesses pay so dearly for electricity.

My Dun Speech for November, 2009 on Land Issue at Sejingkat/Bako

Land Issue at Sejingkat/Bako area

If the lands in Bako area which are registered under the names of Raziah @ Rodiah Binti Mahmud (CM's sisiter) and Tommy Bin Bugo @ Hamid Bin Bugo can be free from Section 47 notification and furthermore with perpetuity term, why can't other ordinary landowners enjoy the same conditions like the Chief Minister’s sister and Tommy Bin Bugo @ Hamid Bin Bugo? Why certain people are more equal than others? We should not run the state like an “Animal Farm”.

Tuan Speaker,

The next pertinent issue I would like to voice out is Land Issue, particularly touching on Section 47 of the Land Code.

For many years, the people in Sarawak have been expressing great dissatisfaction that many lands had been imposed under Section 47of the Land Code.

As revealed by the Land and Survey Department, as at 30.4.2009, there are still 397 parcels of land in Sejingkat/Bako area which are still subject to Section 47 notification since 1974. Hence, the Section 47 notification has caused great anxiety to the landowners in Sejingkat/Bako.

Tuan, Speaker,

We know very well that Section 47 represents a clog on the land for further private development or dealings, whether by way of sale or purchase or used for purpose to obtain loan from the banks or financial institutions. What horrify the landowners now is that the BN state government uses Section 47 notification as an excuse for not renewing the terms of leases of those lands in Sejingkat/Bako which are going to expire soon. Many landowners in the area have expressed their anxiety that in view that their lands are going to expire and that the state government refuses to grant extension of the lease term of their lands due to Section 47 notices. They worry that they will lose their property and end up with nothing because the state government does not have to pay them a single cent upon the expiry of their land lease. If the BN state government is a caring government as claimed, why the government is so heartless to let the landowners go through all these agony? With Section 47 restriction against private land development or dealings, where is the justice and fairness to all these land owners?

Why do the BN Government need 35 donkey years to sleep on Section 47? Where is the promise to review Section 47 every two years? 35 years for any Section 47 notification is very unreasonable. Therefore, it is high time for the State Government to revoke Section 47 Notifications imposed on these lands.

Tuan Speaker,

We DAP are not asking the government to do away with Section 47 of the Land Code. What we propose is Section 47 of the Land Code should be amended so that all notices imposed on the land under Section 47 of the Land Code shall automatically lapse two years after its imposition if the government does not proceed with the acquisition of the affected lands within the said two years period.

My Dun Speech for November, 2009 Sitting on Penan Issue

1. Penan Issue

Tuan Speaker,

Let me touch on a thorny issue which is not only sensitive to the state government but also to me. I consider it sensitive as I do not want any women, be they Chinese, Malay, Dayaks, Indians or Penan to go through it. I have to fight for this injustice for all women in Malaysia.

Rape is such a degrading act against women and some never recovered from the trauma of it. The worst are those who were impregnated during the heinous act.

The NGO had been brave to highlight the issue on rape of Penan Women last year, yes, a year passed by already. What is being done? Has any rapist been arrested? Has any justice been rendered to the victims? NO! Nothing concrete has been done yet! Where is the justice for these survivors of rapes?

Tuan Speaker,

Instead of spear-heading the investigation when the rape on Penan girls and women was brought out, there was an outcry of denial from all corners as the rapists roamed the jungles free. Instead, the NGO who broke the story ended up being the guilty ones. The leaders of this land including the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister II, who is also in charge of Penan Affairs and the Minister for Land Development tried to sweep the issue under the carpet with accusations of the reports as being lies, calling the Penan good storytellers and asking newspapers which blew out the issue to check their facts. The NGO were branded liars and trouble-makers.

When the Woman, Family and Community Development Department made a finding early this year and confirmed that there were indeed rape cases of Penan girls, our state leaders came out strongly against the reports stating it as doubtful. The national media who broke the story was even accused of being Saboteurs.

Our DCM II who is also in charge of the Penan Affairs, denied outright when the report first surfaced. He said he went to Baram often and never heard of any rape case there. Is it because the DCM II did not want to listen to unpleasant issues or is it that the people did not trust him enough to solve such a ‘big’ problem?

Has the DCM II, who was assigned to protect the Penans, failed in his job? Why was he so fast to deny the truth vehemently when the issue broke out?

He should be stripped off his position of Penans Affairs when he has shown no compassion to the victims but instead exhibited extreme prejudice and insensitiveness.

Tuan Speaker,

The rakyat wants an answer. Who is the BN government trying to protect? Is the BN government trying to protect the logging companies who hired these rapists?

If the Penan issue happens in another country, I believe the Ministers and those who were involved would have apologized immediately and resigned to save their reputation. But, this is Malaysia. No one with such power gripped in their fists would want to let go no matter how many mistakes they have made and how many lives have been destroyed due to their non-committal efforts in taking the people’s welfare at heart.

At the Parliament recently, despite Shahrizat having confirmed second time that the sexual assault on the Penan girls are true, did any of our state leaders accept the fact and ensure that a wrong should be set right? NO, No one from the Barisan National is interested in the Penan issue because the Penan to them is of no monetary value and the setting up of roadblocks in the interior prevented their cronies from fattening their wallets. To them, the Penan issue brought out by the NGO is something they wanted suppressed from the world. The best solution for the BN government now is how to sweep the whole thing under the carpet.

Tuan Speaker,

The police, the consortium of law enforcer should take a huge chunk of the blame in their lackadaisical attitude towards the rape issue. There were so many excuses made by the police that one wonders if they were unable to function at all. With all the reports revealed, they still failed to do anything right. First, it was alleged that the victims were unable or did not want to co-operate. The police even blamed the NGO for giving zero co-operation.

It is time the police show some empathy. For once, do something right. Don’t be used by big companies and the ruling party for their own political and financial gain. Please check your conscience and get the suspects. The timber camps have been named. What is so difficult to go to the camps and do some questioning? Don’t just be good in questioning and harassing opposition politicians only. Do something useful.

24 projects with RM80 billion investments approved in SCORE had been announced but the BN has really failed to score any marks in helping their fellow Sarawakians including the Penan when it comes to lining their pockets. It is just so pathetic.