MIRI: The Sarawak Cabinet has ordered an internal investigation into claims made by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) that up to 60% of government allocations — running into billions of ringgit — meant for vital infrastructure projects between 2002 and 2008 have been misappropriated.
MACC investigations showed that only 40% of the money set aside by the Government were spent on the projects. The remaining 60% were said to have been “leaked elsewhere.”
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam said yesterday the state government’s internal audit department would carry out a detailed probe into the allegations.
“The state government is investigating. We also want the MACC to give us a full and detailed briefing on these claims. We (state government) view these claims very seriously and if such abuse of government funds had taken place, we must find out who was responsible and take appropriate action against them.
“This is government money that comes from taxpayers. If indeed funds from the Government meant for projects for the rakyat and the poor had been misappropriated, the state government wants action taken,” he said yesterday.
He was commenting on a statement by MACC deputy commissioner Datuk Zakaria Jaffar that the MACC had uncovered cases in Sarawak where up to 60% of government allocations had been “diverted’’ away from the projects.
Zakaria had said this in Kuching during an anti-corruption seminar a few days ago. He claimed that the misappropriation of funds took place between 2002 and last year, adding that MACC investigations showed that only 40% of the money allocated by the Government were spent on the projects.
He, however, did not disclose what the projects were or which part of Sarawak the projects were being carried out.
He noted that the projects involved infrastructure constructions for roads, housing schemes and mosques, among other things.
Zakaria said MACC investigations found that many of these projects were poorly-implemented while some had not even begun despite the fact that the Government had already channelled the money for them.
“The MACC found that there were fake claims made by officials and contractors involved in these projects,’’ Zakaria said.
Dr Chan, who is State Industrial Development Minister and State Minister for Agriculture Modernisation, said yesterday that the state government had always been very strict with how allocations from the Federal Government are used.
He said the Sarawak Cabinet had always been transparent with taxpayers’ money.
“I am happy that the MACC had exposed the issue. If they are doing their job properly, we are thankful because this is for the good of the rakyat,’’ he said.
State Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Openg wants the MACC to give him more details about the housing projects said to be affected by the misappropriation of government funds.
-stephen then-
for any of you who's unfamiliar with this name,refer to this website.I think they provide a very good brief introduction of the man here.
Well,Stephen Kalong Ningkan was the first chief minister of Sarawak,where he was in office from 1963 to 1966.
But that's not the point I'm writing this today.I'd like to highlight that Stephen Kalong Ningkan was a firm believer that "that Sarawakians were entitled to have full citizenship rights and to participate in Malaysia's national development on a par with the Malays on the Malaya Peninsula."
You see,we the younger generations today, could not fully appreciate the true meaning of Sarawak and how our ancestors fought for their independence before,because we weren't there.I believe,if we were to experience it personally,then I think we'd know what Sarawak means.Even I'm still in the dark over the whole thing. But take note here,that our early leaders fought for our rights and they struggled everyday so that we now could have much better future and to leave our marks in this world.
When Singapore left the Federation of Malaysia in 1965,the Federal Government was scared that Sabah and Sarawak would follow suit,but of course,we didn't.No,we didn't.But after that,we've gone through many trying periods and even until today,we Sarawakians,especially the Dayaks are not united.At the end of the day,what matter is "united we stand,divided we fall."
We've heard about our neighbour in Sabah complaining that the Federal Government is quite insensitive to their needs and complains,and the development in our Bumi Kenyalang herself is not really encouraging.The poverty rate is still high.The supply of electricity and water not really good,as in the case at longhouses in rural areas.Why do we still deserve this kind of treatment?I believe it's because we're not united because even more so now,it is really important that the Dayaks,orang Ulus,the Malays,the Melanaus and the Chinese should stay united and make our voices louder.
I love Sarawak very much.It is not the case of being fascist or racist,because I really do love Malaysia as well,but for most of the time,I've been growing up in Sarawak,I've witnessed the true meaning of "Malaysia" but when I came to west Malaysia,the racism is still strong,no doubt.
So,remember,that the rise and fall of our great Sarawak is in our hands.We'd determine whether it would stand firm against time,or it would fall into disaster.Some of us thought the coming of Anwar Ibrahim and his party,Parti Keadilan is a good news for us Sarawak.But to me,it gives me a sense of deja vu,you know?Remember reading about Tunku Abdul Rahman came to Sarawak and convince our then leaders about the Malaysian dream,but 40 years after that,we are hugely dissapointed with what Mahathir and Pak Lah have done to us?So,is Anwar Ibrahim any good?Personally,I do not know,but as much as I dislike Pak Lah,I am feeling very suspicious of Anwar Ibrahim.He was in UMNO and he's throwing all these promises to us which is what we want to hear,but you know what?We are free to choose what we want to believe and if you think he's good,then he's good but if not,well,he's not.That's all.
Thanks.
well,for those of you who aren't familiar with this,SCORE actually stands for Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy.this project was launched by the government of Malaysia on the 11th of February 2008.i don't wish to write much about the whole matter,so let me make it short.
so,SCORE based on what i've got from wikipedia,
The Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy or SCORE is a new development corridor in central Sarawak state, Malaysia. It is one of the five regional development corridors being developed throughout the country. SCORE is a major initiative undertaken to develop the Central Region and transform Sarawak into a developed State by the year 2020. It aims to achieve the goals of accelerating the State's economic growth and development, as well as improving the quality of life for the people of Sarawak.
i believe should this project is implemented well enough, without too much corruption or better, no corruption at all, should this project achieve its objectives, Sarawak can keep more of her brilliant citizens who at the moment, are leaving her because lack of opportunities here in our Bumi Kenyalang. It has been too long indeed, where we see one after another, our great minds are being used in other places, including west malaysia, eventhough clear at the moment, Sarawak is in dire needs for more people with the right minds and skills to help bring it forward as a developed state.
what more, it is saddening because judging from the vast amount of resources that our Sarawak posses, looking at the poverty rate throughout the state, this reality really makes us angry. i was at saratok last week (it's a place only an hour away from sarikei), celebrating gawai.while i was at my long house, i asked some of the seniors there who could be around 80 to 90 years old and that said,more and more of the younger generation are leaving the long house to go to the city, and look for more promising opportunities out there.well,they're not wrong,judging from what saratok, roban (a neighboring town) and betong have to offer.not much.very little and simply not enough.while Malaysia tries to project itself as one of the best developing nations with a very encouraging economy,however,Sarawak,especially the central part and also the rural areas,still lagged behind,could be a 100 years behind.
we need more good roads to connect one town with another, so that along the road,more development could be carried out and the land values would rise.the sarawak government has to provide more economic opportunities to their people, because it's really a win-win situation.if the people everywhere in Bumi kenyalang is well educated, informed and more business-minded,we could be among the best and help bringing the development of Sarawak to a greater height.so,hopefully,SCORE would turn out a success and would help retain her best people in the state and help developing the state.because currently,because of it being too neglected,Sarawak is losing her best people very fast and this trend is worrying.lucky miri found oil.Had it not found it,well,doesn't look good wouldn't it? :)
that's all.
i'd like to ask anyone who knows,what's our the amount of money paid to us in terms of oil royalty?my cousin told me the other day that apparently,our oil royalty is around RM2 billion,while Sabah receives rm1 billion and terrenganu receives RM 7 billion! if this is true (my cousin works at Bank Negara, so i think this information is pretty reliable.but still,i'd like to know if this figure is correct) this is outraging! i mean,our state produces much more oil than terrenganu and yet...we only receives rm 2 billion???
wtf! i mean,this state is pretty big,no im wrong,it's very very big!for heaven's sake,the other day i went back to my long house for gawai and the some parts of the roads there were and still are very very extremely HORRIBLE! and i've come to realise that there isn't any road linking the places near the shore and Kapit.isn't this maddening? i mean,okay,realistically,it is true to develop good roads require a lot of money,heck yeah. but we sarawakians are of course,be willing to pay road tolls if we drive on good roads.no doubt.
i was at kuala lumpur for the holiday last week,and i was very jealous of their roads there.it was smooth and no holes or whatever as we drove from shah alam to klcc.nope.i mean,judging from the vast amount of resources that sarawak posses,we sarawakians want to see at least, a good road system from lawas all the way to lundu. and also to kapit.but...what i'm angry about is that we only receives rm 2 billion? (correct me if im wrong though)
that's all for now.i'd like to calm myself first.lol
Sarawak never makes ‘ungrateful’ requests
We never demand for much from federal govt: Dr Chan SARAWAK has never made ‘ungrateful’ requests to the federal government, said several party leaders here, in stark opposition to a recent comment by a West Malaysian Barisan Nasional (BN) MP. “We leave the allocation of ministerial post to the Prime Minister. We never demand for much from the federal government,” said Sarawak United People’s Party president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan. Read the rest of the article at this address http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=35522.
this article of Borneo Post that i found in one of our fellow Sarawakian's blogs at http://takikasung.blogspot.com/ caught my interest.You know,before the memorable 8th of March which was the election day and the tsunami wave occured,there was not much news regarding these things.
and now,suddenly,after the 8th of March,well,many things have come up and that includes:
1.the issue of Ketuanan Melayu
2.the issue on NEP
3.the fact that UMNO leaders(some of them)labeled the Malays who voted for the opposition as ungrateful to what the party had contributed in the past,including their effort in making independence susscessful.
4....and Sarawak and Sabah MPs' who are labeled as ungrateful for asking more representation in the CABINET.
don't you see?i suppose the 8th of March is a blessing to the rest of us becuz now,almost all Malaysians are aware of what's the country currently facing.
i am dissapointed when some leaders from the Government suddenly harps on the issue of ketuanan Melayu.it has actually,destroyed the efforts by larger parts of Malaysia who wanted the Malaysian dreams, and not sticking to a race-based political system where we still see each other,not as Malaysian but Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera.
but anyway,let's focus on our topic today,"don't take Sarawak (and Sabah if i might add) for granted".
referring back to the article~ "Mohamad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) said in parliament that East Malaysian BN MPs should stop complaining over their lack of representation in the federal cabinet.Mohamad was quoted as saying that East Malaysian MPs who complained were being ‘ungrateful’ and ‘unable to appreciate their blessings’."
This is really unfair.The MPs are complaining because they feel unsatisfied over things that are related to the development of Sarawak;they don't complain for nothing.
These two states are very rich in resources and having that amount of resources,especially oil,surely the rural areas and places like Kapit have proper access of electricity and water.After all,the Bakun Dam is built right in Sarawak,and yet,why aren't the people of Swak still not provided with these basic needs?
It is very obvious that these two states are very far behind in terms of development compare to the West Malaysia.
i feel,instead of the "ungrateful" and "unable to appreciate their blessings" at sarawak MPs,i believe they should be instead be thrown words like these to the West MPs: selfish and blind. why? let me tell you why...
it's because if it hadn't been for these two very VERY big states,BN would've lost the election that day.almost every seat was won by BN in Sabah and Sarawak,and yet,these people are called as unable to appreciate their blessings!ever since the formation of Malaysia,Sarawak in particular have been very loyal to the Gov't.
to achieve the Malaysian dreams,there have to be a balance in terms of development in all of the states in Malaysia.and yet,this matter is not being looked upon hard enough.very sorry indeed...
the size of these two states are larger than the whole of peninsular of Malaysia,and of course,out of the 140 seats that the Federal Gov't currently have in the Parliament,we would at least have a larger share of the pie.But if to ask for these and being called as ungrateful,well,this is simply unacceptable!
Next year,I would be eligible to vote.And if the disappointments still linger here,well,I know just who to vote then: Anwar Ibrahim,at least he (I like to have faith in people,see?) seems capable of bringing more developments to Sarawak,this beloved home of mine and ours.
Sometimes,being frustrated over this matter serve no good.As for me,I'd say,work hard in my study and work later so that,by having the enough money and power,I could at least contribute to the development of Sarawak,for a much better future with better facilities.It's really annoying when my friends here at KL said to me that we Sarawakians still live in the jungle or the cave.Who wouldn't right?This is really showing that these people are being so ignorant but there is also truth in the matter.We are still far behind.We don't have proper roads to some places etc etc...Oh gosh,it would never end.I just hope that,someday,the people in the Gov't would actually listen to the complains of the MPs here and not calling them as ungrateful,but actually listen and really listen to their complains.
Here,I have an excellent article to show all of you the brief history of the formation of Malaysia:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beritamalaysia/message/102885
Read it.it's a very good information-useful,no doubt.
You know what?I actually like Dr.Mahathir's quote which is "Melayu Mudah Lupa" (Malays easily forget) but I like to extend that to "Malaysians easily forget,not only Malays."
Agree?Any objection?
That's all I suppose.I shall write again soon.Have loadsa free time now!:)
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