PKR tells Abang Jo to divulge details of RM35 mln project
KUCHING: State Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has called upon Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to divulge the details of a proposed RM35-million project said to involve the latest technology to manage and monitor Sarawak’s forest resources.
Its vice chairman See Chee How said the Forest Department of Sarawak (FDS), which is said to have proposed the project, seemed not to have full knowledge of its own proposal.
At a press conference here yesterday, he said former Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar had revealed last October that a fourseater DA42M-NG Diamond special mission aircraft costing RM35 million would be delivered to the state government. The RM35million aircraft was reportedly configured for aerial surveillance and for mapping purposes.
“He ( Wan Junaidi) was quoted as saying that the plane is so sophisticated that it can identify the species of trees below it. And it will be able to fly without refuelling for nine hours,” said See, who is Batu Lintang assemblyman.
He added that the plane was said to be ideal for Sarawak given the state’s vast geographical land mass.
He said Sarawakians were then led to believe that the ministry, through its allocation, was granting Sarawak a very sophisticated fixed-wing plane, the most expensive of its kind to carry out air surveillance and to monitor illegal logging in the state.
“It was only two days ago, the former federal minister was still insisting that the RM35 million is spent on the Diamond aircraft and surveillance equipment added to it.
“On Jan 27 this year, acting FDS director Hamden Mohammad had thought that the RM35 million was well spent on the first fixedwing plane that his department is acquiring,” pointed out See.
He said the acting director was quoted as saying the plane was fitted with high-fidelity surveillance and hyper-spectral sensors.
The acting director was also quoted as saying that “the aeroplane, manufactured in Austria, would also have other sophisticated equipment. The cost of the four- seater aircraft, plus equipment, would reach RM35 million,” See added.
“The same acting director even went to the extent of giving a misleading and inaccurate statement on June 7 that the plane was undergoing testing by the Malaysian Aviation Commission ( Mavcom), that there is a delay in its delivery because of ‘ the stringent technical inspection by Mavcom’.”
However, Mavcom denied that claim by issuing its own statement on June 10 to point out: “With reference to media reports pertaining to a police report involving the Sarawak Forestry Department for an alleged purchase of a ‘ DA42MNG Diamond’ plane worth RM35 million, it was stated that it is undergoing testing by Mavcom. We would like to categorically state that this is incorrect.”
The Mavcom statement added: “Mavcom has not had any communications with the Sarawak Forestry Department and is not responsible for the technical testing of aircraft as stated in the news report.”
After the clarification from Mavcom, Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh also issued a statement to clear the air, said See. Len Talif was quoted as saying that the RM35 million was the total cost for the overall project that consisted of the aircraft, mission equipment, spare parts, warranties, technical support, training and implementation for a period of five years.
“I am appalled by the clarification of the assistant minister, not only with the twist that the RM35 million was with regards to the proposed project instead of the supposedly high-fidelity surveillance plane.
“I am even more stunned that the former federal minister and acting FDS director, who are parties to the matter, have little knowledge of what the RM35 million was used for and they have to give even erroneous information with regards to the plane,” added See.
In this regard, he urged the Chief Minister to immediately instruct the FDS to unveil the project proposal and the approval that was said to have been granted by the Ministry of Finance last year.
By disclosing the details of this RM35-million project, he said the Chief Minister would be upholding integrity of his administration by weeding out suspected corrupt practices which are bleeding the state and the nation.
“It appears that there is a can of worms that comes with the purchase of this fixed-wing surveillance plane. Sarawakians are confused and overawed over the statements made by the former federal minister and the acting FDS director.
“The Chief Minister has said that integrity is one integral foundation of his administration when he announced the setting up of a Ministry of Integrity and Ombudsman in his office, a first in Malaysia.
“This is a fitting case to show that the Chief Minister is determined in upholding integrity of his state government, if he will instruct the FDS to publicise the details of this project,” remarked See.
With the latest twist of events, he opined that “the ball is being kicked to the Chief Minister’s court”.
He, however, said that it is appropriate to give the Chief Minister a little time to deal with the matter vigilantly.
In the meantime, See said he will write to the Ministry of Finance to request for the papers concerning the application and approval of the purported RM35-million project.