What happened in the State Assembly?
ON NOVEMBER 7, 2014, the Sabah Budget 2015 was presented by the State Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Aman, to the Sabah Legislative Assembly. It was debated for three days starting from November 10 to 13, 2014. It was a surplus budget for RM49.23 million.
When I heard of BN assemblymen asking for more development funds, I asked some of them if they agree with me that the word ‘surplus’ is not appropriate. Of course, they would not openly agree with me but the Finance Minister, who is also Chief Minister, explained to the Assembly that a surplus budget is to prevent people from saying that the government does not know how to manage the State. Many western countries are actually running at deficit budget.
The Sabah CM said of the 50% increment in the allowance of administrators and assemblymen is that the government has to be prudent in its spending! It is ironical that lawmakers have lower pay than some government officers. Except for cabinet ministers and family, the other lawmakers have to go to the government hospitals for medical care and treatment. There is no more private hospital benefits except when one is referred by the government doctors. Cost cutting, it appears, is on the cards.
In the Assembly, I spoke about the flood situation in Penampang. I had asked the government to start the flood mitigation work and reminded them that the people are not keen to hear of any comprehensive study on floods. I asked whether the government can compensate the flood victims for their losses, such as furnitures, electrical appliances, livestock and crops. I asked if the housing developers, who could be responsible for causing these f lash floods, can compensate these unfortunate flood victims. I also asked why Petronas did not come forward to assist the flood victims in Sabah. I touched on the poverty eradication program of the government. According to the Auditor-General report 2013, 84 projects involving agriculture, fisheries and animal husbandry, which cost more than nine million, failed to achieve its objective. The seven best projects involving 31 participants managed to increase their income to RM579 per month, falling short of the RM670 per month that could lift these participants out of the poverty bracket. I asked if the government is confident that the 18.5 million allocated for 2015 for poverty eradication will meet its objectives. In fact, one of the reasons for the failure of the government program is the inadequate number of officers to monitor and supervise the program. On this, I asked the government to appoint private agricultural consultant firms to undertake the monitoring task.
Sabah is now facing a serious threat from the so-called Royal Sulu Army. The Sabah claim by the so-called Sultan of Sulu has turned physical with the fatal intrusion in Tanduo, Lahad Datu in February 2013. I have reminded the government that the threat has moved to Penampang and thanked the Police for neutralising the threat thus far. I then spoke at length about BIMP-EAGA or the Brunei Indonesia Malaysia and Philippines East Asean Growth Area. I asked the government to take advantage of BIMP-EAGA, which may be helpful in resolving the crisis in the Sulu Seas. I even asked the government to get more Federal funding for BIMP-EAGA.
I did not forget to touch on issues affecting my constituency of Kapayan. I spoke about the rapid development taking place and asked the government to ensure that developers follow the plan to the letter. I specifically reminded the government that developers must get the drains ready before starting work. The drains must be connected to the monsoon drains.
I thanked City Hall and the Penampang District Council and agencies, such as JKR and Police, for making life in Kapayan much better and safer. I specifically urged the government to assist the Prisons Department to repair its septic tanks so that the foul smell can be eliminated and the people and students in Kg Ganang spared from it. I have also raised the issue of the Donggongon market which is becoming a white elephant.
On tourism, I urged the government to protect the sea turtles and pygmy elephants. I told the August House how these two creatures have boosted the tourism receipts, and being our national heritage they must be protected and conserved at all cost. I may have irritated the Minister concerned when I urged the government to come clean on the elephant issue. I told the Minister that there is now a lead to the killing of the 14 pygmy elephants in December 2012 through a former officer of Yayasan Sabah. I have, accordingly, passed on the document to the Minister for his further action. There is a cash reward of RM120K if the government can nab the culprits from the information provided.
When t he assemblyman for Bingkor touched on the Batu Sumpah in Keningau, there were so many questions levelled at him. At one point, Dr. Jeffrey agreed with his brother Tan Sri Pairin that the oath stone should not be erected in other sites. Some of the BN lawmakers tried to provoke me to rise up and talk about the oath stone. I, however, did not take their baits. But what was surprising is, when I spoke about the Batu Sumpah during my debate speech, none of the BN lawmakers, including Tan Sri Pairin, asked me about our DAP party’s plan to erect more replicas of the batu sumpah in every villages in Sabah.
I, nonetheless, asked the government to quickly find the original plaque or otherwise insert the three words ‘Kerajaan Malaysia Jamin’ in the present plaque when relocating the oath stone outside the Keningau District Office. I spoke at length to explain why the three guarantees from the Malaysian government to the natives here are important. I said in a nutshell, the three guarantees reflect on the life of a native here, which is intertwined with his many beliefs, his land, culture and tradition. Because of his/ her many beliefs, a native places great emphasis on the freedom of religion.