Chong forwards several questions to Premier, others for written replies at coming DUN meeting

KUCHING (Oct 29): Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen is seeking clarification from Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg regarding the Sarawak government’s holding in Affin Bank Berhad.

He had asked for the Premier to state the costs of increasing the government’s holding in Affin Bank Berhad from the previous 4.81 per cent to 31.25 per cent, the price at which the shares were acquired from the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) and Boustead Holdings Berhad and its expected return on investment.

This was one of four questions the DAP Sarawak chairman had addressed to Abang Johari which were submitted to the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) secretary on Monday for written replies during the coming DUN sitting which starts on Nov 11.

In one of the questions, he had also asked the Premier to state the government’s total investment amount in Serba Dinamik Holdings Berhad and given that the company was now in liquidation, what is the total loss to the government through investment in the company.

“I am also asking the Premier to state the rationale on why the Business Names Registry (a state matter) in the Kuching Division is still handled by Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) which is a federal agency while all the other Business Names Registries in other divisions are handled by state agencies.

“Does the government have any plan to set up an online search mechanism for all the Business Names companies in Sarawak?” he asked.

Another question to Abang Johari was to state the difference in terms of the source of fund, mechanism of approval and financial procedure between the allocation under the development expenditure and the allocation under the alternative funding for the implementation of development projects.

Chong also submitted several questions seeking for replies from Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.

With Uggah being the Infrastructure and Port Development Minister, his questions were on when the upgrading work of the 4.4km Jalan Matang Baru Phase 2 project commenced, what was the reason for the long delay in the project, the names of the numerous contractors involved from day one until now and what was the initial costs involved as compared to the latest costs of the project.

To Dr Sim, who is the Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister, Chong had asked the Deputy Premier to state what actions the Sarawak government has taken against two developers, one of which was regarding the developer of Taman Hillside housing project, Sin Heng Bow Realty Sdn Bhd, for the non-delivery of document of titles to the house purchasers since the housing project commenced in 2000, and whether such action has been effective in resolving the problem.

“The other question is to ask Datuk Amar Dr Sim to state what action has the government taken against Multi Heng Development Sdn Bhd, the developer of Taman Sri Kenyalang in Kuching, for the non-completion of the housing cum shophouse project since the project commenced in 2016, and whether such action is effective in resolving the problem,” he said.

Two questions were also submitted for written replies from Utility and Telecommunication Minister Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi including to state the status of project implementation for the old water pipe replacement project in Sarawak involving an allocation of RM1.085 billion which was approved this year.

“How many kilometres in length of the old water pipes have been replaced?” he added.

He also asked Julaihi to state the number of local and foreign companies in Sarawak which have obtained the Renewable Energy Certificate and the pricing structure by Sarawak Energy Berhad on any company purchasing a Renewable Energy Certificate.

The tenth question from Chong was to Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah seeking for the statistics of all tourist arrivals by countries, including from other regions in Malaysia, and their respective tourism receipts generated in quarterly figures for 2023 and 2024.

The DUN will convene for the Second Meeting for the Third Term of the 19th DUN from Nov 11 to 20.