Friday, July 13, 2018

砂政联盟(GPS)必须摒弃其前国阵时期的朋党主义

(古晋12日讯) 行动党柏拉旺区州议员黄培根今日敦促砂拉越州政府必须履行他们在州选时为人民所作出的承诺,并且摒弃其前身即国阵时期的朋党主义运作方式,以造福砂拉越人民。
黄培根是在参与2018年砂州立法议会州元首御词辩论时表示,这次是在第14届全国大选变天后的第一次砂州会议,也是砂拉越自1974年以来第一次成为非国阵的州政府。但他强调,人民的生活还在继续,而砂拉越人民最大的期望就是希望砂拉越政府能够提升他们的生活。
“马来西亚的变天,这表示了人民已经唾弃了国阵的治理,而退出了国阵的砂拉越政府不应该再延续国阵时期的朋党主义运作方式。”
在国阵倒台了之后,希盟联邦政府曝露了许多涉及数十亿令吉的朋党舞弊的工程如东铁计划(ECRL)、马六甲多产品输送管计划(MPP)以及泛沙巴天然气输送管计划(TGSP)都没有通过公开招标,而砂拉越人民不希望看到所爱的砂拉越也有这样的事件发生。
对此,黄培根提醒砂拉越政府必须要停止向朋党发放没有公开招标的州内发展项目;其次是必须停止洋灰和道路桥梁建设方面的垄断以及实施公平以及透明的施政,以便砂拉越人都可以得到公平与公正的对待,因为人民才是老板,更重要的是,砂拉越政府必须履行其2016年的州选举承诺。
“砂拉越虽然是马来西亚的一个反对党州属,但砂拉越州政府拥有庞大的储备金仍然足以兑现其2016年的州选举承诺,砂政联盟必须改变其前身的运作模式。”
他强调,砂拉越人民的要求其实并不苛刻,人民想要的只是良好的经济、良好的教育和良好的医疗保健以及负担得起的房屋和社会福利,更重要的是看到砂拉越拥有一个廉洁以及公平透明施政的政府。
“我们看看2008年至2018年由反对党执政的槟城,他们的财政预算只有砂拉越的十分之一,但他们仍能满足槟城人民的期望,并将其发展成为马来西亚的典范州属。”

砂拉越政府必须帮助私人界参与石油和天然气行业

(古晋12日讯) 砂拉越政府欲实现参与石油和天然气行业的愿望,那么砂拉越政府就必须介入以让砂拉越的私人界分享石油和天然气行业的经济蛋糕。
黄培根认为,若砂拉越政府要履行他们的诺言的同时也要确保砂拉越私人界也能够从石油和天然气行业当中获利,虽然砂拉越的本土公司可以零售国油公司(Petronas)和蚬壳(Shell)给予汽车使用者,但这只是利润较小的一环。反观砂拉越的飞机燃油供应却没有砂拉越本土的公司。
“目前砂拉越的飞机燃油供应市场当中, 国油公司(Petronas)占了市场份额的85%,而蚬壳(Shel)l拥有剩余的15%的市场份额。而砂拉越的飞机燃油油耗为1.5亿公升,估计收入为3.75亿令吉。“
黄培根续说道,据他所知,尽管砂拉越有一些石油公司拥有DCA证书和MAHB的准证以及专业知识来为砂拉越提供飞机燃油,但是他们却不能分享飞机燃油为砂拉越所带来的盈利;对此,他呼吁州政府介入以帮助砂拉越公司以让他们也可以分享这项经济蛋糕。
“我建议政府制定政策如为砂拉越的本土公司保留50%的参与权,而国油公司(Petronas)和蚬壳(Shell)则专注于供应飞机燃料,将零售部分留给砂拉越公司,就像砂拉越的添油站一般。我认为这是一项双赢的

砂拉越政府必须要照顾UPK承包商

(古晋12日讯)砂拉越政府的职责应该是要照顾砂拉越的人民,聘用拥有本土执照的承包商而不是让无需缴交执照费给州政府的承包商。
黄培根在参与2018年州元首御词辩论时表示,目前砂拉越两种由政府颁发的承包商执照。其中一个是在Pejabat Satiausaha Kewangan Negeri Sarawak的Unit Pendaftaran Kontraktor注册的UPK执照,另一个是大马财政部发出的Pusat Kidmat Kontraktor的PKK执照。这导致了许多西马公司来到砂拉越承包了许多砂拉越的政府工程,使得砂拉越本土的承包商失去了许多的机会。
他强调,其本身并没有刻意的去针对西马公司前来承包工程,但这确实是存在了许多的问题,除了导致砂拉越的承包商减少了机会之外,一些西马公司只是持有了大马财政部所颁发的PKK执照就在砂拉越承包工程,甚至还为州政府或其代理机构和政联公司提供服务,但是这些承包商在砂拉越却没有办事处,也没有申请本土的营业执照,这对于向州政府注册并向州政府支付执照费的本地承包商不公平。
“这些西马公司的办公室设在西马,当PKK承包商的雇员与管理层发生劳资纠纷时,他们无法在本地解决纠纷问题而必须前往西马去解决问题,造成了人民的不方便。”
让黄培根感到不解的是,一些政府地方议会甚至只向持有中央承包服务商(PKK)执照的商家而不聘请本土的承包商。
对此,黄培根呼吁必须立即采取行动,要求其所有部门,地方市议会,代理机构以及政联公司对其聘用的承包商进行审计,并了解保问题有多严重。
“政府必须要认真看待砂拉越的权力和砂拉越人的利益,首长应该发布指令要求所有部门和政联公司立即只使用砂拉越的UPK承包商。

砂拉越农业改革

(古晋12日讯) 砂拉越拥有全马最大以及最肥沃的土地,但砂拉越却还得进口主要的食品。对此,柏拉旺区州议员黄培根呼吁砂拉越政府在专注于油棕业的同时必须引进其他方面的农业潜力。
黄培根在参与州元首御词辩论中提到,首长在2017年表示砂拉越设目标到2030年将目前的53%的稻米供应量提高到70%。
“而2012年,我们宣称砂拉越可能很快成为马来西亚的主要稻米生产州,因为联邦政府正在探讨本州在这方面的潜力。但是,到目前为止却还没有达到这项目标。”
他也提到,砂拉越的商业化水稻种植面积为500万公顷,占全国土地面积的35%,足以成为马来西亚的第二个收入,但我们的农业部却没有提供足够的培训给予农民,引进高产品种稻米,建立灌溉基本设施进行稻田栽植,并与稻田农民合作帮助他们,而不是只懂投掷资金,任意分发肥料和农药。
除此之外,黄培根也呼吁州政府不应该只专注于油棕业而忽略了引进其他方面的农业潜力,如花卉产业,在这方面全球花卉贸易额高达1000亿美元。

诗巫塞车问题

(古晋12日讯)砂拉越政府应该要正视诗巫的塞车问题,同时必须制定出一个交通大蓝图并建设更多道路和连接道路,以缓解乌鲁顺溪美拉路,黄景和路,乌也路, 电台路到德圣路,伊干路等几个地区的交通拥堵问题。
黄培根今日在参与州立法会议元首御词辩论时表示,在已故丹斯里阿德南任首长期间已经向首长署提呈了一份7千万令吉诗巫外围交通连接计划。当中包括兴建两条新的道路,一条短桥,将部分乌也路(从电台路到东姑阿都拉曼路的交界处)给扩建成双程车道。
他也提到,州政府也需要将乌鲁顺溪美拉路扩建成双程车道,因为在过去的10年里该处已经兴建造了超过一千间的房屋,沿着这条道路有两间学校,即顺溪美拉国中(SMK Sungai Merah)和南山小学(SJK(C)Nang Sang)。日趋严重的交通拥堵问题导致大部分居民怨声载道, 因为他们必须时常面对上学和上班被困车龙的问题。
对此,黄培根建议州政府成立一个特别交通委员会,由砂政联盟(GPS)和希望联盟(PH)的议员组成,朝野合作一同寻找替代方案以及解决方案与预算等,最主要的是解决诗巫的塞车问题。
除此之外,也是砂行动党副主席的黄培根也呼吁州政府给予诗巫市议会以及诗巫乡村议会更多的拨款,以让他们能为纳税人提供有质量的服务。
“由于拨款不足导致了诗巫地方议会管辖下的道路和主要沟渠处在恶劣的状况,在过去的几十年里,州政府对地方议会的拨款很少,如180万令吉,这让人难以接受,甚至还不如民都鲁发展局,民都鲁虽然人口比诗巫少,但民都鲁发展局却获得到了2亿令吉的拨款,这对诗巫人民来说是非常不公平的。”

Monday, November 20, 2017

2017年柏拉旺州议员黄培根财政预算案辩论演词

N54柏拉旺州议员黄培根财政预算案辩论


议长先生,感谢您让我有机会针对2018年预算案进行辩论。  

我期待着我们的首长在2017118日提呈他的预算,因为我认为这将是属于所有砂拉越人的预算,尤其是把重点聚焦在降低生活成本。

我们的首长的2018年预算为82.26亿令吉,但遗憾的是这并不是许多人的预算,因为大多数砂拉越人根本看不到这项的预算实质是什么。 我们的首长似乎喜欢大型发展项目,喜欢通过展示他如何精通科技术来打动人心,谈论数码经济和电子商务,但是他忘记了砂拉越优先需要一个关怀的政府来照顾人民,特别是穷人和弱势群体。

是的,我们有一个富有的州政府,但是我们的人民呢?随着消费税的实施,马币贬值以及联邦政府取消了对燃油,食用油,糖甚至面粉的补贴,导致许多人难以跟上日益增长的生活成本。 在公布财政预算82亿26百万令吉的同时,首长是否解决了生活成本不断上涨的问题

已故首长阿德南在他担任砂拉越首席部长期间,因着他实施许多以民为本的政策而被人们铭记于心,他最显着的贡献之一就是他修改了州内工商部门的关税结构,以缓冲人民生活成本的上涨。当时阿德南也宣布,州政府取消了一些给人民带来巨大影响的地税。在过去两年的时间里实行了人民友好的政策。他通过取消过桥收费,加速郊区发展以及减少农地和住房的课税等方式赢得了砂拉越人的心,特别是城市地区的人,他是一个砂拉越人信任并愿意与之合作的那种领导人。
 
 
我们可以看到,槟州政府和雪兰莪州政府正在致力协助帮助人们抵御不断上涨的生活费,尽管他们的预算案分别只有13亿令吉和31.2亿令吉。

我们的首长是否给一些帮助予那些被技职学校或本地大学录取的学生?比如槟州政府给予技职学生RM300和大学生RM1000的补贴。至于家庭收入RM5000以下的家庭槟州政府也提供给他们老年人的援助或医疗服务。而育有6岁以下的在职母亲也将获得每年300令吉的奖励。他们的渔民也每年两次获发放RM400现金券及免费渔网,这些我们砂拉越有吗?
 
 
 
与此同时,雪州政府也将生活成本和负担得起的医疗保健计划纳入他们的2018年预算案里雪州政府提供一个名为关怀健康Skim Peduli Sihat)的计划以协助解决B40低收入家庭生活成本上涨问题。该计划将覆盖了超过100万收入RM3000及以下的人民雪州也将在2018年推出Kasih Ibu Smart Selangor 雪州关爱母亲计划KISS)。在该计划下凡家庭收入少过RM2000的家庭主妇将每月获得RM200的生活援助。
 
至到目前为止,我们有看到首长提到消费税实行后为砂州越普罗百姓生活及商业环境所带来不利的影响吗?

砂拉越人希望看到首长优先照顾平民百姓,而非只专注在那些不太明智的大型项目,比如轻快铁和砂拉越发展银行。

必须注意的是我们的发展基金账户已从RM5,333,45620151231日)减少到RM952, 93020181231日估计结存)。首长是否可以告诉我们这43亿令吉的去向,以及过去三年来花的钱到底带来了那些显著的发展?

为什么拥有57.4亿令吉预算的砂拉越政府不能效仿槟城(RM13亿元预算)和雪兰莪州政府(RM31.2亿预算)解决不幸日益增长的生活成本问题呢?

砂拉越的预算是马来西亚所有州属中最多的一州,讽刺的是我们仍然是马来西亚最贫穷的州属之一,国阵政府必须负上责任。
 
一个好的预算案不应该仅仅只是一堆的数字或手上有多少的储备金,而是它如何影响和帮助人们在经济上独立,关心弱势群体,并通过政府部门实现社会各阶层的平衡分配。
 
目前,首席部长手中的权力和财政拨款已经过度集中了,但是国阵的立法议员却并是一言不发,这就是为什么人民把他们希望寄托予希盟议员身上,希望我们能把他们的心声带入州立法议会殿堂。
 
2018年的砂拉越预算中,24.81亿令吉为估计营运开支,其中6.462亿令吉(48.1%)是分配给由首席部长领导的三个部门,剩下的6.975亿令吉(51.9%)则分配给其它十个部门。
 
57.45亿令吉的估计发展开支中,40.48亿令吉(70.5%)分配给由首席部长领导的三个部门,剩余的16.97亿令吉(29.5%)由另外10个令吉部委。
 
明显看出这种权力集中不符合经济效率和问责制,也许这就是为什么我们仍然是国内最穷的州属之一


 
多年来的州政府所拟定的预算案具有以下结构缺陷 :
 
 
 
 
 
1)权力过度集中


国阵开支计划没有任何政治意愿来解决国家缺乏发展的结构性问题。首长的决定是最后的决定,他的内阁和国阵的议员正如我们所看到的那样,盲目附和。虽然有13个部门,但是单是首长本身的部门就占了全年预算的60%以上,这是权力过度集中的证据。

 

2)腐败,管理不当和政治庇护仍然普遍。

最近,砂森林部门擅自释放了从非法伐木业者手中取缔的价值700多万令吉的原木和机,而第二天然资源部长却不知情,另一位部长则要求反贪会进行调查。
 
根据报告说,超过3,500条原木和14个重型机械是由砂拉越林业机构(SFC移交给森林部门以采取适当的行动。
    
旅游艺术文化青年体育部长拿督阿都卡林对婆罗洲邮报说即使是森林主任也声明这个不是他自己的决定,而是来自委员会的。希望看到更彻底的调查。反贪委员会也应该严正调查这些官员是否已经越权,当我读到这件事时,我十分不高兴。”
 
我们希望被指控的部长在这个议会殿堂里给予人民一个合理的交代,否则他就必须被撤职。

 


3)没有足够的时间和机会辩论预算案

通常情况下,政府提呈的法案和预算案都是在没有足够的时间进行辩论下就贸贸然被通过,这是无法让人接受的。因为通过的法案和预算案对人民有直接的影响,而且他们的代表没有时间和机会去审议和探讨关键选择和分配的基本原理。

在本届会议上,为何在野议员在第十一个小时才被给予法案,这种情况再次发生,我们希望首长在为其部门进行总结时回应他们是否是故意导致在野党议员没有足够的时间做深入研究以免该法案在议会内受到挑战。

立法议会显然不把人民的利益置放在政治上的朝野合作精神,这就是为什么过去几十年来财政预算案从来没有一个健康的辩论,因为国阵的立法者被视为行政部门的橡皮图章。在这种情况下,我们如何能良好施政?
 
 


4)赤穷人士未能完全获得援助

根据马来西亚经济监察委员会4月份向经济规划小组提交的报告,国内最贫穷的10%的群体当中只有27%得到了政府的帮助。

这在砂拉越是特别严重的,因为我们是马来西亚贫困率最高的州属之一,我们许多乡区人民没有基本设施,比如自来水,电力供应和诊所,更不用说消防设施。



议长先生,我同时也想提出以下足以影响诗巫的课题:

诗巫外围道路链接计划

1)议长先生,自从2011年开始,我已经提出许多关于诗巫发展不足的课题。在过去的10年,诗巫没有任何新的道路或道路衔接,诗巫的发展基本上停滞不前。

我已于201510向首长办公室提交了一项仅需耗资7000万令吉的道路系统规划建议诗书,并且呼吁我们当时的首长将计划纳入2016年砂州财政预算案以解决诗巫交通拥挤以及诗巫人口密集的住宅和商业区之间缺乏连通性的问题,并为在诗巫开发一个低成本住房中心铺平道路。

在我们的新闻发布后,巴旺阿山州议员告诉媒体,他有一个耗资一亿令吉更好的计划,但直到今天我们还没有看到他的计划。如果他真的有,为了诗巫人民的利益,我可以向他和政府保证,民主行动党会给予百分百的支持。

议长先生,该计划并没有被纳入在20162017年的预算中,至到2018年依然如此,这也意味着诗巫已被排除在发展主流之外。国阵政府简直是在蔑视诗巫人民,不然的话我们找不到更好的理由来解释为何首长会拒绝一个对诗巫有益的建议,即使这个建议是由行动党发动的。

巴旺阿山,都东和南甲的国阵州议员,他们也分别担任州内阁部长,诗巫市议会主席和助理部长, 但是却任由诗巫被边缘化,我必须把这一切记录在案 。


开拓橡胶木和橡胶工业

2)议长先生,我要谈论关于诗巫和砂拉越中区的经济。

在过去的几十年里,我们看到了诗巫从砂拉越木材中心,砂拉越第二大城市以及拥有最多银行的荣誉中走向末落。它周边较小的城镇,如泗里街,民丹莪,加拿逸,如楼,巴干和淡宾在过去并没有明显的发展, 似乎根本看不到希望,因为它们已被国阵政府边缘化,许多的年轻人也因为缺乏就业机会而外流另谋发展。一些企业也开始迁徙向国内外其它地区另谋发展。

为了扭转这个趋势,政府又为诗巫及周边城镇带来什么就业机会和商机?据我所知,完全是没有。

议长先生,看看巴布新机内亚,所罗门群岛,非洲等其它地方的伐木公司大部分都是来自砂拉越中区!

我们必须寻求其他行业来取代砂拉越中区的夕阳伐木业,并为当地人带来就业机会,并为诗巫带来第二次经济繁荣以带动砂拉越中区内小城镇的经济起飞。

议长先生,我在说的就是橡胶木和橡胶工业。在2007320日,我们的副首长道格拉斯( Datuk Amar Douglas)曾表示需要制定一项橡胶行业的大蓝图,并表示,如果州内有足够的橡胶园来,轮胎制造商将热衷于投资在砂拉越。他也强调说,他是在出席马来西亚橡胶局D-G会议期间时所得知这一点的。我促请他在为他部门作出总结陈词时清楚说明。

议长先生,本州前副首长拿督巴丁宜丹斯里阿弗烈查布在2013年也表示,除了原有的1.6万公顷的成熟橡胶园以及在2012年所开发种植的8,250公顷橡胶种植园外,另外还有额外2万公顷的土地也将被开辟成为橡胶园。他也有进一步表示,政府的目标是到2020年在州内开辟25万公顷的橡胶园。

议长先生,我曾遇到一位西马商人有意在诗巫设立橡胶木加工厂。他已获得出口准证,但他还没有获得在诗巫建立橡胶木工厂的准证。州政府开出条件要该公司前往丹绒马尼购买工业地段设厂以获得生产和加工准证。

工业发展助理部长于20171010日口头答复我的问题时说,这个行业需要由私人领域来推动,殊不知私人领域在接洽该部门过程中,已经被官僚和繁文褥节所刁难。

这家私人公司的发言人也透露不明白为何政府要每个橡胶小园主都要去森林部门申请清芭准证,因为这将给小园主带来了巨大的负担,况且橡胶树和天然木材两者之间根本就有天渊之别。

砂拉越虽拥有大量的橡胶木材,但是所有这些资源都被遗弃了,原因是因为州政府不了解该行业的潜能到底有多大。

橡胶木的主要用途是制造橡胶木家具,目前生产橡胶木家具最著名的莫过于是柔佛麻坡。麻坡是家具城市,全国80%以上的家具出口是来自那里。预计橡胶木家具每年为它们带来总值80-100亿令吉的收益。

每年橡胶木原料出口和本地需求可达数十万立方米,若每立方米州政府征收120令吉税务,那将为砂拉越政府带来数百万元的税收。橡胶木制品的出口也将能带来了数十亿的收入,同时也能创造了数十万个就业机会。

之前, 西马的所有的工厂只能在工业区建立,直到撤销上述规定后,所有橡胶木加工厂都被允许在橡胶园附近设置,以方便处理那些被砍伐下来的橡胶树。我们的州政府可以联系他们在西马的同僚来确定事实的真相。

议长先生,助理部长在回复我时说的若要设立一个加工厂就得要接洽ICGSEIDC,森林部和环境部,与其如此政府倒不如着手裁减繁文褥节并提供协调和帮助那些投资者以便他们能取得所有必要的部门和机构的配合。



诗巫市议会(SMC)和诗巫乡村议会(SRDC)

议长先生,老百姓真的不是那么的苛刻,他们只是希望地方议会能提供足够的基本服务和设施。

在诗巫有两个地方议会,即诗巫市议会(SMC)和诗巫乡村议会(SRDC),这两个议会负责提供街灯,倒垃圾服务,清理水沟,道路维修和一般卫生等基本服务。

然而,这两个议会都没有达到基本的服务水准,人们普遍对政府感到愤怒,因为他们认为地方议会的表现是衡量州政府的标准。

我知道他们的困境,但是我不同情他们, 他们的基本问题是缺乏资金导致他们无法积极处理民生问题。

议长先生,让我们来看看2018年的预算案,州政府拨给这两个地方议会多少钱?我们可以看到诗巫市议会仅获得150万令吉,而诗巫乡村议会则获得180万令吉。

议长先生,你认为这足够吗?我们的地方议会的资金管道有限,他们从门牌税,执照费等方面收取的资金肯定不足够让他们提供服务。

然而,令我们完全失望的是,我们的第二任财长也就是巴旺阿山区州议员和自2005年以来就担任诗巫市议会主席,他也是都东区的现任州议员,同时也是南甲州议员的房屋部副部长,他们都辜负了选民赋予他们的委托, 他们根本就无法为诗巫地方议会带来更多的发展金。

同时,我针对人联党主席暨地方政府部长曾经在去年担任部长期间就地方议会不要担心资金问题发表了一些非常激昂的演讲感到羞愧。

议长先生,诗巫人对人联党和联民党之间的政治争论不感兴趣,但请不要让这些影响到地方议会的表现。


在此我结束演词,希望首长和相关部长们将回应被提出的问题,我相信首长有他的智慧来修改预算案,以及解决由在野党州议员在立法议会殿堂内所提出

David Wong’s budget debate speech for 2017

David Wong’s budget debate speech for 2017
Tuan Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to debate on Budget 2018.

I waited in anticipation for our CM to table his budget on the 8/10/2017 as I thought it would be a budget for all with emphasis on reducing the rising cost of living.
Our CM did table an 8.226 billion budget for 2018 but sadly it wasn’t a budget for the many as most Sarawakians can’t see what’s in it for them at all.
Our CM likes mega projects and likes to impress the people by showing how tech-savvy he is, talking about digital economy and eCommerce, high speed internet and LRT project and forgot that Sarawak needs a caring government that takes care of the people especially the poor and the less privileged first before we embark on other agendas.
Yes, we have a rich state government but how about our folks? With the implementation of the GST, the devaluation of the ringgit and the so called rationalization of the BN where subsidy for fuels, cooking oil, sugar and even flour were cut, many are finding it difficult to keep up with the rising cost of living.
While announcing the RM8.226 billion budget, did the CM addressed the issues of rising cost of living?
The late CM Tok Nan is remembered for his many “people-centric” policies during his tenure as CM of Sarawak. Among his most notable contributions is that he had revised tariff structure for the domestic, commercial and industrial sectors to cushion the rising cost of living of the people. Adenan had also announced that the state government had abolished payment of certain land-quit rents which have brought a huge impact on the people. During his stint in the past two years, he has implemented people-friendly policies. He has won the hearts (of Sarawakians), especially those in urban areas, through moves like the abolishment of toll, acceleration development in the suburban areas as well as reducing the premium payments for agricultural land and housing, among others. This is the kind of leadership that Sarawakians put their faith and willing to work together with.
Penang government and Selangor government are giving out assistances to help people struggling against rising cost of living although their budget is only RM 1.3 billion and RM3.12 billion?
Did the CM give any thought to the students who are accepted into vocational schools or local university by giving aids to them like what the Penang government does with RM300 for vocational students and RM1000  for college students? How about the senior citizens aid or healthcare services for families with household incomes of RM5000 and below and RM300 in “child care assistance” for mothers with children below six(6)? RM400 cash vouchers for fishermen along with free nets twice a year, do we have it?
The Selangor government has a heart for the poor by addressing Cost of living and affordable health care into their budget 2018. The “skim peduli sihat” or medical healthcare coverage to address the rising cost of living for the B40 income group, which cover aopproxuiately 1 million people with income of RM3000 and below. The Selangor government announced a new program, dubbed “kasih Ibu Smart Selangor” (KISS), which provides a monthly assistance of RM200 for food supplies to mothers whose families earned below RM2000, ho about Sarawak?
Or did the CM mentioned about the ever worsening business environments in Sarawak since the implementation of the GST?
Sarawakians would like to see the CM taking care of the ordinary people, the men and women on the street and the working families and not taking care of mega projects that may not be viable at all, such as the LRT and DBoS. Bearing in mind that the Development Fund Account (cmd. 7 of 2017) has been reduced to RM952, 930 (est. bal. at 31.12.2018) from RM5, 339,456(31.12.2015). Can the CM show us where the RM4.3 billions went, what developments has been brought by the money spent over the past 3 years?
With RM5.745 billions, why can’t Sarawak government emulate the Penang (RM1.3 billion budget) and Selangor government (RM3.12 billion) in tackling the rising cost of living for the less fortunate and table a budget for all?
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.

There has been an 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 2018 State Budget, out of the estimated Operating Expenditure of RM2,481 million, RM646.2 million (26%) was allocated to the three ministries headed by the Chief Minister, leaving the remaining RM697.5 million (74%) to be shared by the other 10 ministries.

Out of the estimated Development Expenditure of RM5,744 million, RM4,048 million (70.5%) was allocated to the three ministries headed by the Chief Minister, leaving the remaining RM1,697 million (29.5%) 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
The state government budget over the years has the following characteristics; Structural flaws
1)  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  Aduns 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.
2)  Corruption, poor governance and political patronage remain widespread.
Recently, the Forestry department released logs and machineries worth some RM 7 million from illegally logging and yet the second minister for natural resources didn’t know about it while another minister called for a investigation by the anti corruption agency.
    More than 3,500 logs and 14 units of heavy machinery were handed over to the Forest Department by SFC for appropriate action, the report said.
    Commenting on this, Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Abdul Karim told The Borneo Post: “Even the director of forests has to make a statement that the decision is not his but (that of) the committee. I smell a rat here and wish to see a more thorough investigation. MACC should also look into this matter and whether there is any element of officials acting beyond their powers. I am just not happy when I read about this matter.”
We would like the minister n charged to give this House and the people a full account of the incident or be removed from his office.
3) 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 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.
This has happened again in this session where the opposition law makers were given the Bills at the eleventh hour and we want the CM to respond to this in his winding up speech whether it was done deliberately to stop the opposition law makers from having sufficient time to do research and making sure the Bills are not challenged in this Dewan.

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?
4)  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 fire fighting facility. And yet our CM is talking about …

    Tuan Speaker, I would like to raise the following issues affecting Sibu:

1)    Tuan Speaker, since 2011, I have raised many issues about the developments of Sibu or rather the lack of them. Over the past 10 years, there is no new road or link being built/constructed in Sibu and Sibu’s development has basically come to a standstill.

I have submitted a Sibu Outer Links’ proposal to the CM’s office in October 2015 and urged our CM to have it adopted into the 2016 budget. The 70 million proposal will ease the heavy traffic jam and solve the problem of the lack of connectivity among the densely populated residential and commercial areas in Sibu as well as pave the way to develop a low cost housing hub in Sibu.


After our press release, member for Bawan Assan told the press that he has a better plan which cost some 100 millions but until today we have not seen his plan at all. If he has one, for the benefit of the people of Sibu, I can assure him and the government that DAP will give 100% support.

Tuan Speker, to deny Sibu the necessary budget in 2016, 2017 and again in 2018 is to totally cut Sibu out of the state development, the BN state government is incontempt of the people of Sibu as we don’t see any reason for the CM to refuse a proposal which is good for Sibu even if that proposal was initiated by the DAP.

I must put on record that member from Bawan Assan, Dudong and Nangka have failed the people of Sibu in allowing Sibu been marginalised while holding the position of a state cabinet minister, the Chairman of the SMC and an assistant minister respectively.

2)    Tuan Speaker, I am talking about the economy of Sibu and central region of Sarawak.
Over the past decades we have seen Sibu slid from the past glory of the timber hub in Sarawak, the town which owns the most number of Sarawak local banks, the second biggest town in Sarawak. and even worst hit were the smaller towns in central region of Sarawak such as Meradong, Kanowit, Pekan, Julau.

There seems to be no hope at all for these towns in central Sarawak as they were been ignored and marginalized by the BN governments, youths start leaving their hometown looking for employment, companies start leaving for other parts of the country and overseas.
Tuan Speaker, look at the logging companies in Pupua New Ginea, Solomon, Africa and elsewhere, most of them came from central Sarawak!

We must seek other industry to replace the sunset logging industry in central Sarawak and to bring jobs for the locals and create a second economy boom for Sibu that will also spill over to the smaller towns in central Sarawak.

I am talking about the rubber wood and rubber-based industries. Our deputy CM Datuk Amar Douglas has on 20th March 2017 spoken of the need to set up a Master Plan for the rubber industry and stated that tyre manufacturers are keen to invest in Sarawak, if the state has sufficient rubber plantation to support the industry. He said he was informed of this by the Malaysia Rubber Board D-G during a meeting.I would like the deputy CM to address this House during his winding up speech on this issue.

Tuan Speaker, our previous deputy CM Datuk Patinggi Alfred Jabu has stated in 2013 that another 20,000 hectares of land has been opened up for rubber plantation in the state in addition of the existing 16,000 hectares of matured plantation and 8,250 hectares which had been cultivated in 2012. He further stated the government has targeted to open up 250,000 hectares of rubber plantation across the state by 2020.


Tuan Speaker, I met a Malaysian who tried to start off the Rubber wood processing factory in Sibu. He has obtained the export license, but he can’t get the license to build a rubber wood factory or mill in Sibu. In order to obtain the production and processing license, the government want the company to go to Tg. Manis to buy an industrial lot.

The assistant minister for Industrial development in his oral reply to my question on the10th October 2018 has said that this industry needs to be driven by the private sector not knowing that the private sector has approached the ministry and was turn away by the bureaucrats and red tapes of the government.

The private company’s spokesman disclosed that the government expect every small plantation owner to go to the Forest Department to apply for a clearance license. This burdens the small plantation owners immensely. He questions the need of the small plantation owners to obtain clearance license from the Forest department since own rubber trees were planted unlike the natural wood.

Sarawak has abundant supply of rubber wood which all these while has been left to rot simply because the state government does not have any idea how big is the industry.

The main usage of rubber wood is the rubber wood furniture, when it comes to rubber wood furniture; the most famous is Muar in Johor. Muar is a furniture city, 60% or more of the country’s annual export of furniture is from Muar. The main furniture export is the rubber wood furniture because of its beauty and generous grains, annual revenue of the Rubber Wood Furniture and rubber wood is estimated to be in the region of RM 8-10 billion.

Each year the export and local demand of rubber wood raw materials is up to hundreds thousands cubic meters, every each cubic meter the government tax RM 120, bringing in millions of tax revenue for the government.

The exports of rubber wood products also bring in billions in    revenue. Hundreds of thousands of jobs opportunities had been created the various sectors along the way.

At one time, all the factories in West Malaysia can only be set up at industrial area but now all the rubber wood processing factories were allowed to be set up near the rubber plantation instead of industrial zone, rubber wood factories are allowed on agriculture land. Our state government can ascertain the truth of this by giving their colleague in west Malaysia a call.

Tuan Speaker, instead of what the assistant minister given in his reply to me that to set up a processing mill, one has to go to ICG, SEIDC, Forestry department and department of environment, it is the job of the government to cut red tapes and coordinate and help the investors to get all the necessary ministries, departments, authorities to work together to make it easy for the investors.


3)   Local Authority of SMC and SRDC
Tuan Speaker, the ordinary people really are not that demanding and just want the government to deliver the basic services and amenities that can be delivered through the local authorities and local councils.

In Sibu, there are two local councils, the SMC and the SRDC, these two councils are tasked to provide the basic services from providing street lighting, disposal of garbage, cleaning of drains, maintenance of roads and general hygiene of the town and residential district.

Yet, the two councils have failed to deliver the basic and people are generally angry at the government because they perceive the local council’s performance as a yardstick of the state government’s.

I have dealt with the local councils and know their predicament although I don’t sympathize with them. Their basic problems are the lack of funds which made them unable to respond positively.

Tuan Speaker, let’s look at the 2018 budget, how much did the state government grants to these two local councils? SMC gets RM 1.5 million while SRDC gets RM 1.8 million.

Tuan Speakers, do you think that’s sufficient? Our local councils have limited channels of funding and the fund they collected from the assessment rates, licenses are definitely insufficient to provide for the services that they are tasked with.

However, we are totally disappointed that our second finance minister and member for Bawan Assan, the Chairman of the SMC since 2005 who is also the present member of Dudong and the assistant minister for Housing who is also the member for Nangka failed to live up to the expectation to bring more funding for the local councils of Sibu.

But no thanks to the president of the SUPP and Minister in charge of Local governments who had delivered some very eloquent speech about wanting the local councils not to worry about funding when he was appointed the minister last year. What a shame!

Tuan Speaker, Sibu folks are not interested in the political squabble between the SUPP and UPP but please don’t let this affect the performance of the local councils.


With that I conclude my address and I hope the CM and the relevant ministers will respond to the issues brought up and the CM has the wisdom to amend the budget to address the issues and concerns and the problems raised by the opposition members of this House as well.

DAVID WONG'S BLOG

MOUTH PIECE 4 SARAWAKIAN

Blog Archive

Labels