Transparency in project awards
Sarawak government to invite Auditor General, MACC to sit in tender meetings
We will continue to abide to the financial procedures as laid under the law and the financial provisions of Treasury Instruction. Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Chief Minister
KUCHING: The Sarawak government wil l include the Auditor General in its project award committee meetings under State Tender Board chaired by the State Financial Secretary.
This was announced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg in his windingup speech yesterday.
To further enhance Sarawak government’s good record of governance Abang Johari added he would also invite representatives of the Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission (MACC) to attend the state tenders meetings.
“It has been seen and heard that our so called ‘ friends’ on the other side are using scare and fear tactics on the administration of Sarawak by continuously questioning the government and insinuating that the government is corrupt and not transparent.
“Making continuous erroneous allegations and insinuation of corruption on me, my ministers and the state civil servants without any proof or substantiation is to create the perception to the public that there is something wrong with the government.
“When they repeat such allegation many times, they are hoping that the people will believe in their stories and will vote against the government.”
Abang Johari said after he took over as the chief minister, the cabinet members had taken part in an Integrity Pledge witnessed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and head of Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission ( MACC).
He noted that Pakatan Harapan ( PH) elected representatives have been harping on corruption among opposition leaders to bring them down.
The chief mini s t er said Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) is not afraid of such tactics, and is ready to face any accusations of corruption.
“We will continue to abide to the financial procedures as laid under the law and the fi nancial provisions of Treasury Instruction,” he said.
He told member s of the opposition in the august House that t hey must back t heir accusations or allegations with facts and not simply create perception to the public or resort to character assassination.
“That is cheap politics. I want to call on all Sarawakians not to fall prey to this cheap politics of the opposition.
“Their objectives are to bring down the government using perception and not using facts because they do not have the facts.
“Only the State Tenders Board and the state Cabinet decide on projects to be implemented and not by any government heads,” he said.
He assured that the State Secretary, State Financial Secretary, State Attorney General, permanent secretaries and heads of departments and their officers and the civil servants carry out the cabinet’s decisions and directions prudently and effectively.
KUCHING: For her refusal to delete a Facebook post which disparaged the State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) and the Speaker, Violet Yong ( DAPPending) was fined RM2,000 for contempt of the august House.
This punishment was meted under Section 24(1) of the Dewan Undangan Negri ( Privileges and Powers) Ordinance 2007 ( Cap 65) after she was referred to the privileges committee.
International Trade and ECommerce Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh had suggested for Yong to be punished with the maximum fine of RM2,000 for showing no remorse for the offence committed.
Wong ( UPP- Bawang Assan) had earlier tabled a ministerial motion to punish Yong for the offence, of which notice was submitted pursuant to Standing Order 23( 2) read together with Section 24(2)(n) (iii) of the Dewan Undangan Negri ( Privileges and Powers) Ordinance 2007 ( Cap 65).
Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office ( Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip seconded the motion.
Wong also said the Facebook posting by Yong had gone viral and thousands had been misled to think that the annual salary of the Speaker for next year was RM5.95 million.
You (Yong) should have sought clarifications before you went to Facebook. This already went viral, thousands of people have been misled. I’m sure she knew it was an offence but she did so to score political mileage. Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, International Trade and E-Commerce Minister
Yong had posted on her Facebook account at around noon of Nov 13 that Sarawak DUN Speaker’s emoluments for 2019 is RM5,947,000.
“You (Yong) should have sought clarifications before you went to Facebook. This already went viral, thousands of people have been misled.
“I’m sure she knew it was an offence but she did so to score political mileage,” said Wong.
He explained the move to punish her was due to the gravity of the offence and the damage she had done to the Speaker’s office.
He also mentioned that the fine would be reduced if Yong were to apologise and delete the posting.
“Since she showed no remorse, and she did not want to admit she had done something wrong, I think a maximum fine should be imposed. I would like to propose a fine of RM2.000 to be imposed on the Honourable Member of Pending for the offence she had committed,” said Wong.
Yong, in her response, said she would not do it, and alleged that the move to punish her showed that she, just like the rest of the opposition, were being oppressed and bullied by the majority in the august House.
She also said there was no malice on her part in the Facebook post, to bring disrepute to the august House.
A total 62 voted in favour of the motion to punish Yong, while only eight voted against, after it was put to vote by DUN Deputy Speaker Dato Gerawat Gala.
Dato Idris Buang ( PBB-Muara Tuang) rose to support the motion and questioned Yong’s intention for the Facebook posting, while Chong Chieng Jen ( DAP- Kota Sentosa) stood up to defend Yong.