Wednesday, November 21, 2012

David Wong's debate speech on Sarawak Budget 2013


Thank you Tuan Speaker for allowing me the opportunity to debate on the Budget
Tuan speaker,
The basic functions of any elected democratic government are to safeguard the interests of the peoples, to make their lives easier, to protect them and of course to inspire them with hope.

The budget is of course very important as it shows how the government is going to allocate and share the resources, in the most basic form it is “who gets what, when and how?”

Legislatures play an important role in monitoring government budgets. Most democratic constitutions demand that parliament/state assembly deliberates on and approves the annual budget. Transparency and accountability are only achieved through independent checks on the integrity of a budget. Is government doing what it says it will be doing and is the monies spent to benefit the peoples? Parliament/state assembly is an ideal place to promote openness and debate around budgets. 

Monitoring government budgets is also conducive to better decision-making within government and prevents leakages. It provides a forum for purposeful and concrete engagement between the executive, the legislatures and civil society around critical choices and allocation of resources.

That is why we are here and that’s why it is important for the Speaker of the House to allow healthy debate and allow questions to be asked of the Cabinet about the budget. More importantly, the Speaker should direct the Ministers to answer the questions if the whole process is to become more meaningful.

The goal of the budget is supposed to ensure that public funds will be spent in accordance with the needs of the people, ensure that public projects are structured to benefit the peoples as opposed to politically well-connected as well as enabling Sarawakians to achieve greater economic freedom.

But in Sarawak, the BN government has all this while has a free hand as the state legislative has become the rubber stamp of the executive branch and the opposition has been bombarded like “Pearl Harbour” in the Dewan even though we are just discharging the duties of the elected Wakil Rakyat by asking questions and moving motions for the betterment of the rakyat.

The budget of Sarawak is the largest among all the states in Malaysia but on the other hand we are still one of the poorest states in Malaysia. There must be something wrong and the BN government must be held answerable.

A good budget is more than just numbers or the reserve we hold but how it affects and helps the peoples to be financially independent, care for the less privileged and be able to achieve a balanced distribution for all sectors of society through the government ministries.

In Sarawak we have a strong and rich state government but to be more precise a strong and rich CM who controls (64%) of the state revenues through his holding to the post of the CM, Finance Minister and the Minister of Resource Planning and Environment.

There has been a over centralization of power and fiscal allocations in the hand of the Chief Minister and yet the BN law makers do not utter a single word of concern or cast any doubt on the distribution of power and that is why the rakyat has placed all their hope on the PR’s elected wakil to speak out for them in this Dewan.

In the 2011 State Budget, out of the estimated Operating Expenditure of RM1,343.7 million, RM646.2 million (48.1%) was allocated to the three ministries headed by the Chief Minister, leaving the remaining RM697.5 million (51.9%) to be shared by the other 10 ministries.

Out of the estimated Development Expenditure of RM3, 630.3 million, RM2, 537.0 million (69.9%) was allocated to the three ministries headed by the Chief Minister, leaving the remaining RM1, 093.3 million (30.1%) to be shared by the other 10 ministries.

Such concentration of power defies the principles of economic efficiency and accountability and maybe that’s why we are still the poorest state in the country.

Our CM in his budget speech talked about the Government Transformation Progamme and the Economic Transformation Programme and talked that the Budget focuses on five key areas as follows;
11)      Boosting investment activity;
22)      Strengthening education and training;
33)      Inculcating innovation and increase productivity;
44)       Fiscal consolidation and enhancing the public service delivery; and
55)      Enhancing the well-being of the rakyat.

However good that might sound the facts remained that the there are some structural flaws that he never addressed in the Budget and all the rhetoric will not solve the problems we face as a state.

The state government budget over the years has the following characteristics; Structural flaws
11)  Over centralization of power in a person and he controls it all.
Nothing in the Barisan Nasional spending plans indicated any political will to tackle structural problems blamed for the state’s lack of developments. The CM decision is final and his cabinet and the BN’s  Adu as we see it only toe his line.  There are 13 ministries and the CM controls more than 60 % of the annual budget which is evidence of the over centralization of power.
22)  Corruption, poor governance and political patronage remain widespread; families and cronies getting the biggest share of the government’s projects.
Lands are taken by the politically well connected at a fraction of the open market price and bridges are built by them and road maintenance has been their monopoly as well.
33) Insufficient time and chances for debate on the budget
Often, the government Bills and  Budget is passed in a hurry without allowing sufficient time to debate which is most unacceptable as the Bills and Budgets t passed has a direct impact on the peoples and yet their representatives are not given the time and chances to deliberate on and probe on the rationale behind the critical choices and allocation.

The House clearly lacks the bipartisan spirit that puts the interests of the rakyat above politics and that’s why there is never a healthy debate on the Budget for the past decades as the BN law makers are seen as the mere rubber stamp of the executive branch. How can we have good governance under the circumstances?
44)  Poorest not getting access to aids
According to the Malaysian Economic Monitor April report to the Economic Planning Unit, only 27% of the country’s poorest 10% had received help from the government.

 This is especially serious in Sarawak as we have one of the highest poverty rates in Malaysia and many of our folks in the rural areas are without basic public utilities such as piped water, electric power and clinics not to mention firefighting facility.

The above mentioned 4 structural flaws must be overcome first if the CM’s 5 key areas on the budget can be meaningful at all. Without addressing the structural flaws, the budget becomes just mathematics figures which cannot bring Economic Transformation to Sarawak.

The CM always asks the Chinese community “what do you want?”  The question should be asked of all the people in Sarawak and allow me to present their case here in this Dewan:
11) Equality and fairness to all in the sphere of education
Again, we urge the state government to recognize the multi-racial character of our society and the important role played by the Chinese and Missionary schools in the state. The government needs to allocate funding to these schools systematically through our state annual budget

Our DPM has on the 12th and 13th proudly announced that Malaysia with its Chinese business community has become the power house of the global economy because of the flourish of the Chinese dialects and I quote “financial wizardry” of the Chinese business community.

He also proudly told the 4th World Chinese Economic Forum in Melbourne, "Malaysia is the only country outside China with a Mandarin education system available to its population from pre-school right up to university. There are also many other non-Chinese background Malaysians who study in Mandarin schools," he said.

So it is timely that the Sarawak state government comes into the big picture and immediately announces that the state government will make fixed allocation to all the Independence Chinese schools and Missionary schools starting with the budget for 2013 but the budget presented by the CM failed to address this important issue again and I can tell him that many are disappointed by his budget on this issue.
                                                                                                                     
22)  Meritocracy
A)    Award of government projects
They want the government to replace special privileges with meritocracy where fairness and equity prevails in the allocation of the economy, such as the award of government’s development contracts. However priority should be given to the locals to undertake the project.

B) Public service commission
Many complain that the current Public Service Commission is discriminatory towards certain ethnic groups seeking to join the public service sector. The Sarawak Public Service Commission has to set a mechanism as well as a target to implement a fairer and equitable in-take of the public service personnel among all the ethnic groups in Sarawak. The meritocracy system must be implemented as well to make sure that only the best serves the rakyat.

 According the answers given to me by the CM on the question (no. 9) I asked in the last DUN sitting, out of the 104,499  federal civil servants serving in the state  only 14% are non-Bumiputra and this does not argue well for a multi-racial society like Sarawak. Indeed, one might add “where is meritocracy?”
33) Bipartisan
They want to see a bipartisan DUN where the interests of the peoples come first and the majority in the Dewan must respect the minority in every aspect.

Development funds/Projects for constituency
On development funds, I urge the BN state government to allocate development funds to all elected Wakil Rakyat of each constituency regardless of the political affiliation of the elected Wakil Rakyat as they were duly elected by the rakyat who they represent. After all, we all pay taxes and we are free to vote for any political party or any individual.
44)  CAT and good governance
They want to see good governance where competency, accountability and transparency reign.
In  the 2013 budget, just like the previous years’ budget, the largest single item (RM 1, 855.00 million) in the Name of “GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS APPROVED AGENCIES TRUST  FUNDS” accounted for almost 46% of the Estimated  Development Expenditure (RM 3,965.46 million) and yet there is no explanation whatsoever as to what Funds and how they are administered. This is totally unacceptable and could become the biggest leakages in the history of Malaysia. Where is transparency? Where is accountability?

Government projects and procurement over the sum of RM 50,000.00 must be given based on open tender system so that there is no more excuse such as “overpriced” supplies and accountability must be strictly enforced.

No government projects or state land should be given to the cabinet minister, assistant ministers and political secretaries, elected ADUN and their immediate families to show transparency which the BN state government still failed to deliver on this all important issue.
55)  Create a caring society

Low Cost Houses
Build more low cost houses for our fellow Sarawakians to apply. We need to build more quality low cost houses in every division in Sarawak so as to improve the standard of living for Sarawakians.
Before I came to this Dewan sitting, I was hopeful that the Minister of Housing has something good to present on this issue and the budget of 2013 has substantial allocation for this sector but again in the 2013 budget just presented by the CM I did not see any substantial allocation at all by the state government.
Caring for the less privilege
The Social Welfare, Women Affairs and Family Development department over the past three months has delayed in paying out the welfare checks to those who are entitled and this has put a lot of stress and burden on those who needed the help to make ends meet. I have been told that the payment for the month of August, September and October 2012 had been delayed. According to the welfare department of Sibu, they did not receive the money from the state government and we would like the Minister in charge of the social welfare to enlighten us as to why and how that could happen under her watch.
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p6) Peace and security
They want the government to guarantee peace and security for them.

The government says the police are everywhere, but obviously that’s not true as the peoples do not feel the same way. The crimes rates in Sibu and Sarawak are climbing fast although the police produce figures that show otherwise. The reason for the conflicting figures is the loss of faith of the general public on the police and they feel that it is a waste of time to report the crimes.

How can we blame them when the OCPD/KPD of the Sibu police (November 6th 2012) went to the press to tell the folks that the police are not ruling out the possibility of engaging the Bomoh to solve a shooting case that rocks Sarawak?

He has made a mockery of the police force and this has eroded all the confidence there is left of the public on the police force.

Cyber gambling is so rampant in Sarawak and the social ill that it brings have made many families broken and many youths have resorted to robbery and theft to settle the gambling debt thus contributing to more crimes against the society at large.

 I hereby urge the state government to request that a police task force be set up to tackle the cyber gambling immediately and a hotline be established so that the general public can report the illegal gambling directly.
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77)  Invest in the future; Free Wi-Fi for all; for a knowledge society
The future of the country and the state depends on education and IT information and we need to nurture the youths to produce the brain of the nation. Currently only the PR’s state of Penang has implemented the free Wi-Fi internet access while Selangor will start next year.

Sarawak with its huge state reserve of RM 18.64 billion surely can afford to give free Wi-Fi internet access to its peoples and create history to be the first BN held state to take such a pragmatist approach to create an informed and IT literate society.

Telekom Malaysia must be condemned for the frequent interruption of Streamyx broadband services which had caused much grievance to the peoples in the state.
88)  Infrastructures
Roads and drains in Sibu
 The AG’s report for 2012 has pointed out that the local council in Sibu(SMC) has failed to fully utilized the grants from the federal and state government from 2009-2011. Out of the total sum of RM 62.17 million only RM 49.03million was utilized, we would like the Minister of Local Government and Community Development to explain to the House where are the rest of the money?

We would consider it leakage if there are no proper and acceptable explanations’ with fact and figures to back up.
Roads in Sibu
1The roads in Sibu are some of the worst in Sarawak’s major townships and the government must allocate more funds to upgrades all the major roads in Sibu which among others are Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, Jalan Deshon and Jalan Teku just to ention a few.

l     Lamp posts
There are many areas in Sibu where there isn’t street lighting and lamp posts along the major roads and streets;
1) Ulu Sg. Merah  Lorong 38-48, residents moved into 5 years ago and yet the road between lane 38-48 are still without lamp posts. 
2) The middle 2 km stretch of Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce linking the Salim road to the Sibu-Bintulu road to the airport is not even planted with lamp posts. Countless accidents had happened over the years. No lamp posts almost 10 years after its completion, Believe it or Not!?

To wind up, I would like to take this opportunity to challenge the CM to do the following:
a.     Direct all the ministers, assistant ministers, political secretaries to declare their personal and families’ asset,
b.     Implement open tender system ; all government contracts and procurements exceeding RM 50,000.00 must call for open tender and not just a few selected are short listed,
c.      Forbid all the ministers, assistant ministers ,political secretaries and  ADUN and their families to tender for government’s contract, and
d.     Forbid all the ministers, assistant ministers, political secretaries and elected ADUN and their families to apply for state land.

Only by addressing the structural flaws of the budget will there be Hope for the people. The BN government must, as I said in my opening address, “inspire them (the people) with Hope!”

Thank you Tuan Speaker, with that I conclude my speech.


黄培根2013年砂州财政预算案的辩论词


感谢议长允许我参加砂州财政预算案的辩论
议长 先生
在民主制度下所选出来的政府,最基本的职责就是维护人民的利益,使他们生活更轻松,保护及为他们带来希望。
预算案是非常重要的一环来展现政府如何分配及共享资源。最基本的形容词就是“谁得到什么,何时以及如何?”, 也就是政府怎样用我们的钱!
立法机关扮演着重要的角色来监督政府的预算案。最民主的做法就是宪法规定要求通过国会/州议会审议和批准年度预算案。透明度和问责制只能透过独立预算案的完整性检查才能实现。政府是否兑现对民的承诺,并且所花费的款项是用于有利于民的事项上?国会/州议会是一个理想的地方来提倡开放和辩论预算案。
监督政府预算案有利於政府制定更好的决策及防止泄露。它提供了一个论坛给行政机关,立法机关和民间团体针对关键性的选择和资源分配有具体参与的机会。
这就是为什么我们在这里,这就是为什么议长必须批准我们在这里进行辩论和允许我们向政府提出关于预算案问题的重要性。如果要议会民主更有意思,议长应该指示不知们回应立法议员的问题而不是保护政府。
预算案的目的必须确保公共资金可以依据人民的需求来分配,并且确保公共工程的结构可以直接造福人民,而不是与政治有挂钩。这样砂州子民才能取得更大的经济自由效益。
但是在砂劳越,国阵政府在拥有一切的同时还有州立法行政部门做为其免费的推手。相对的,在野党在州议会里却被轰炸的像“珍珠港”,即使我们是在履行身为人民代议士的职责,在议会里问政,提呈动议来改善人民的问题。
砂州的预算案是全国最多的预算案,然而砂州却是全马最贫穷的州属之一。这当中一定出现了什么问题,国阵政府必须向人民做出交待。
一个好的预算案不知是局限在数字和所拥有的储备金,更重要的是如何影响和帮助人民在经济上的独立,照顾弱势,并能够通过政府部门实现均衡分配给社会各阶层。
在砂拉越,我们拥有一个强大和资源丰富的政府。更准确的说法应该是我们拥有一个强大和富有的首席部长,他透过首长,财政部长及资源规划与环境部长职位控制了州内64%的财务税收。
权利和财务分配过于集中於首长一个人手上,因此所有国阵的立法者在权利分配上从不敢发出半点的疑问。这就是为什么人民把希望寄托在民联代议士身上,透过他们将人民的心声带进州议会。
2011年州财政预算案,预算营运开支13亿4千百3百万令吉中的6亿46百万令吉(48.1%)分配给以首长为首的3个部门,剩余的6亿99百万令吉(51.9%)由其它10个部门共享。
在发展开支预算36亿3千万令吉中的25亿37百万令吉(69.9%)分配给以首长为首的3个部门,剩余的10亿93百万令吉(31.1%)分配给10个部门共享.
这种的过于集中的权利已经违反了经济效率和问责制的原则。也许这就是为什么我们仍然是国内最贫穷的州属。
我们首席部长兼财政部长在他的2013财政预算案里说政府的目标是要经济改型计划得到成功所以州政府的财政预算案把焦点放在5个以下的地方:
1.       提升投资范围
2.       提高教育和训练
3.       革新和提升生产力的教育
4.       财政统一和提升公共领域的服务
5.       加强国民的福利
听起来首席部长的财政预算案好像很棒。可是我们州政府财政一直以来存在的结构性的缺陷将会使他的经济改型计划计划失败而他所题以上的5个焦点一概不能得到成果。
多年来州政府的预算案都持有的特点结构缺陷
1. 权力过于集中在一个人身上,因此他可以控制一切
国阵没有任何计划表示有意愿解决足以影响州内整体发展的结构性问题。首长的决定是最后的决定,以他为首的内阁只遵从他的指示。在10个部门当中,首长掌控了64%的年度预算案,这现象就是权力过于集中的佐证。
       2.   贪污,管理不善和政治庇护;亲属和朋党得到政府工程最大数额的股份
强大的国内市场的导向是结合了中小型企业,技术熟练的劳动力,有限的政府干预和强有力的政策是可持续发展的关键。在砂州,最大型的政府工程都批给亲信,这些当中许多都没有公开招标。
许多土地被那些与政府有挂钩的人士以低过市价的价钱收购。建立桥梁及维修道路的工程被他们所垄断。
       3.   没有足够的时间和机会来辩论财政预算案
通常在没有足够时间辩论下而匆忙通过的预算案是最不能够被人接受的,因为那是直接关系到人民的事项。况且,身为人民的代表竟然没有给予时间和机会来探讨这关键性的决定及当中事项的分配。  
       4.    最贫穷的一群没有得到援助
根据马来西亚经济监测的经济策划单位4月份的报告中显示,国内27%贫穷者当中 只有10%得到来自政府的援助。特别是砂州,我们的贫穷率是全马最高的州属之一,许多居住在郊区的人民没有基本设施的供应,如自来水,电力和诊所更不用说用于防备的防火设备。

首长经常问:你们华社到底要什么?这个问题应该要问全体的砂州人民,他们的答案再清楚不过了,他们普遍希望政府:
1.       以平等和公平的对待教育领域

再次,我们呼吁州政府认同多元种族社会和华小及教会学校在州内所扮演的重要角色。政府必须透过州常年预算案制度化拨款给这些学校。

我们的副首相在12日和13日非常自豪的宣布,马来西亚与华商已经成为全球经济蓬勃发展的国家,并且引述中文的说辞,以“金融巫术”来形容华裔经商的方式。

他还自豪的表示4届世界华人经济论坛在澳洲墨尔本举办,马来西亚是在中国以外唯一一个从学前教育至大学提供华语教育的国家。他也说有许多非华裔公民在华校接受教育。

因此,砂州政府应该要有远见,立即宣布在2013年预算案中制度化拨款给州内华小和独中。

2.       绩效制
A.      政府项目奖
他们希望政府以绩效取代特权,透过公平和公正的方式来分配经济。例如政府授予的开发合同,当地人应当被优先考量成为工程的竞标者。
B.      公共服务委员会
许多人投诉说,公共服务委员会歧视某些欲加入公共服务部门的族群。砂州公共服务委员会要设立一个机制,以实现一个更加公平和公正的系统来筛选公共服务人员。实行绩效率来服务付他们工资的纳税人。
根据首长答复我上一次州议会时的问题,在砂州所有104499联邦公务员当中只有14%是华裔。

3.        放开政治纷争

他们希望看到州议会里的议会民主,以人民的利益为先。

发展拨款/选区项目

关于发展金,我促请国阵州政府拨出发展金给所有民选代议士的选区。砂州人民要求政府公平拨放发展金,因为每个代议士都是透过民主程序所选出来的,不应该有政党的区分。

4.       良好治理

他们希望看到良好管治能力,问责制和透明度的治理。

可是我们在2013年的财政预算案又看到一笔高达180亿5千万或总财政预算的发展开销的46%的不明的项目叫做 “贡献给法定机构信贷资金“, 这样一大笔的财务没有注明用在哪里,给什么法定机构或谁将管理那笔资金。

议长先生,没有解释把钱花在哪里和没有解释人民将从中得到什么就是一个不好的财政预算案。我要政府知道,钱是人民的而不是他们部长的。

这证明2013年财政预算案是一个极为糟糕的财政预算案也是其中一个主要原因为什么我不能认同首席部长的2013年的财政预算案。

我们要求政府工程和采购的数额超过RM 50,000.00就必须采取公开招标。那就没有借口如“价格过高”供应和问责制必须严格执行。

我们也应该实行不给任何政府工程和政府土地给内阁部长,助理部长和政治秘书,州立法议员和他们的直系亲属,以展现透明度。

5.       创建一个充满爱心的社会

廉价屋

建造更多的廉价屋供砂州子民申请。我们需要在州内各地区建造更多廉价屋,以提高砂州人民的生活水平。

我希望房屋部长可以在2013年预算案当中置入一些好的事项在廉价房屋课题上可是我们首席部长的2013年财政预算案却没有任何惊喜给我们。

关怀弱势

福利部,妇女事务和家庭发展部在过去的3个月延迟发放支票给那些合格的人士。这使到那些需要靠这笔援助金过生活的一群倍感压力和负担。我已经通知相关单位要支付8月,9月和10月的援助金。根据诗巫福利部的解释,延误发放的原因是他们没有收到来自州政府的拨款。我们希望该部门的部长向我们交待,为何在其管辖下的部门会发生这样的事情?

6.       和平与治安

他们希望政府可以确保和平与安全。

罪案和治安-政府说警察无处不在,但很明显的这种说法并不正确,因为人民没有因此而觉得安全受到保障。诗巫和砂州的罪案急速攀升,虽然警方提供的数据有所不符。真实的个案与警方的数据不符,那是因为民众对警方失去信心,他们认为报案根本就是浪费时间。

我们不能责怪他们,当诗巫警区主任(2012116日)向媒体表示警方不排除利用巫师的力量来征查砂州的枪杀案。议长先生看来我们需要聘请巫师来代替我们警区主任。

他的这些言论使警队成为笑柄,这已经削弱了民众对警察部队的信心和信任。

许多民众网络赌博的活动感到愤怒因为赌博带来的社会问题和家庭问题将导致我们动荡不安。我们呼吁政府要警察成立特工队来打击这个问题和成立一个热线以方便民众举报网络赌博。民众有的说有些警察部队可能跟这些不法的赌博集团有勾结不然为什么警方没有有力的打击网络赌博活动?

我们要砂州警察总监给我们知道是否是事实,如果不是请他解释为什么警方不大力打击网络赌博?

7.       投资未来;免费无线上网;知识社会

国家与州的未来取决于教育和资讯科技。我们需要培育年轻的一代,为国家造就人才。目前只有槟城州实行免费无线上网,而雪兰莪州将於明年开始实行。

砂州拥有18.64亿庞大的储备金,肯定有能力为州内人民提供免费无线上网的服务。创造历史,成为首个国阵执政的州属以实用主义的方式创建一个明智的科技知识型社会。

8.       基本设施

诗巫的道路和沟渠

2012年总稽查师报告中点出诗巫市议会 (SMC) 没有充分利用来自联邦和州政府从20092011年所提供的拨款。在总数6217万当中只有4903万被使用。我们希望掌管地方政府和社区发展部门的部长向议会解释,剩余拨款的去向。

如果部长没有适当的事实根据或数据备份和可以令人接受的解释那么我们就当那笔13百多万的钱“不翼而飞”。

1) 诗巫的道路情况是砂州所有主要城镇中最糟糕的。即使是连接诗巫市区与机场主要通道的德圣路,几十年来不曾进行过提升工作。
2) 敦阿末再迪安艾德鲁斯路和德古路的糟糕情况根本无法用语言来形容。多年来无数的交通意外在这条路上发生。我们看不到在拥有18.4亿储备金及估计税收4.04亿的砂州为何不能为急需维修的道路提供提升工程。

                     路灯
                     诗巫依然有很多地区的主要道路和街道没有路灯设备;
1) 乌鲁顺溪美拉38巷至48巷,居民已经搬进该住宅区5年,可是至今38 48巷的道路依旧没有路灯。
2) 连接沙廉路与诗巫,民都鲁路及机场的敦阿末再迪艾德鲁斯路,间中有2公里的距离完全没有路灯设备。拥有无数的交通意外在这里发生。这条道路通车以来已经有10年的光景,可是竟然没有装置路灯,你相信吗?


做为结论,我挑战首席部长指示他的内阁成员,助理部长,政治秘书,执行以下的操作:

a.       申报个人和家庭资产
b.      实施公开招标制度;要求所有政府合同和采购的超过RM50,000的,必须公开招标,而不只是少数人当选入围
c.       禁止所有议员的家属竞标政府工程
d.      禁止所有议员的家属申请政府土地
 唯有解决了结构性的缺陷,预算案才能够真正惠及人民。正如我在开始我的辩论词时所说的,国阵政府必须激起他们(人民)的希望!

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