DAP slammed for alleging cronyism in RM1 bln allocation

KUCHING: Sarawak Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club ( BNBBC) accused a Democratic Action Party ( DAP) lawmaker of being too quick to respond negatively to the government’s announcement of a RM1 billion allocation to upgrade ICT infrastructure in Sarawak.

Its chairman Abdullah Saidol said DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen should have attended the two-day International ICT Infrastructure and Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (Idecs) 2017 before he chose to jump to such a “wicked notion, baseless allegation and wild accusation”.

He said being a Sarawakian, Chong should applaud the move and perhaps assist by coming up with a substantively constructive response.

“I believe the Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg will further elaborate on this matter in this coming state legislative assembly (DUN) sitting, where we are also anticipating more favourable policies to be announced,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Abdullah, who is also Chief Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, was responding to Chong’s statement on Wednesday.

Chong had alleged that the state government’s announcement of RM1 billion to be used to upgrade ICT infrastructure and to build 5,000 telecommunications (telco) towers is another mega project which would be directly awarded to a BN crony without tender.

He pointed out that the development of ICT infrastructure could be carried out without the rent- seeking and profiteering elements of Sacofa Sdn Bhd.

“Yet the state government chose to allow Sacofa to profiteer on this RM1 billion allocation. This will result in higher costs and less effective results,” he was quoted as saying.

Chong, who is also Kota Sentosa assemblyman, said at the moment only one company in Sarawak has the full authority on the control, construction and licensing of ICT infrastructure, which is Sacofa.

Abdullah said the Chief Minister, after due appraisal and scrutinising an overview of the state’s current socioeconomic structure and anatomy, including taking into account as well as anticipating the global economic climate and prospects, had made various announcements and taken actions to strengthen and revamp the state’s economy and financial standing.

He said Abang Johari was absolutely right to say that Sarawak cannot continue to rely on federal funding to develop the state.

“He strongly believes that we must decide on our destiny here in Sarawak, not somebody else deciding for us.

“He also stressed that we must create policies that are Sarawakcentric which focus on the immediate and strategic needs of Sarawak.

“That statement speaks for itself of Abang Johari’s leadership, passion, administrative desire and political mission for the state,” he said.

Abdullah said all Sarawakians must support the Chief Minister’s move for nothing else but the sake of their own interests and prosperity.

He said the Chief Minister admitted that it was not going to be an easy process, but with a strong political will, vigilance, administrative actions and a solid sense of direction, nothing is impossible.