Baru Bian Urges MACC To Investigate Failed Projects in Bario-Ba’Kelalan

KUCHING
Wednesday, 24th March 2010

It has been reported in online portal Malaysian Mirror, that Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian had called on Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate a number of failed projects worth more than RM20 million in the Budoknur area in the Ba’Kelalan.

The projects included mini hydro-projects, water treatment plant, a community hall, an irrigation system at Sungai Kumap and bailey bridges.

He said: “I have just returned from Ba’Kelalan to see the projects myself and I was shocked to see that the community hall was not completed. It has roofs and a floor and that’s it. It has been like that for the past one year.

“The contractor after pocketing the money left the half-completed hall,” he alleged on Wednesday.

“And there is a mini hydro project which is not functioning due to lack of water to turn the turbines. It cost million of ringgit to build.

“Similarly there is also no water in the water treatment plant which is to supply clean water to two villages in the area.

Poor quality of construction

“The plant which cost between RM3 million and RM4 million is always dry,” he said,

Another failed project is the irrigation system which is to irrigate water into their padi fields, and because of the poor quality of construction, the walls have cracked and water has been diverted to else where.

“If the system is not rectified, the farmers expect to have bad harvests next year. The whole project was worth RM260,000,” he said.

Baru said that four bailey bridges were to be constructed along the road between Long Semadoh and Ba’Kelalan. Two of the bridges have been poorly constructed, while two more are yet to begin.

“And I have been told the money to the tune of RM12 million have been paid to the contractors,” he alleged.

“My point of highlighting all these failed projects is to confirm what the MACC said that 60% of the funds were leaked.

Carry out investigations

“And what the MACC is going to do with these failed projects and as a tax payer I am interested to know what actions have been done or will be taken?” he asked.

Baru said that he had instructed some people to lodge reports with MACC based in Limbang to make sure they (MACC) will carry out investigations.

He also urged the MACC to monitor the proposed of constructing a ‘temporary permanent’ road of 80km long from Long Luping to Ba’Kelalan which is valued at RM52 million.

“I have never heard such a term as ‘temporary permanent’ road, because to build the road it will cost the government more than RM1 billion,” he claimed.

“I am suspicious with the term as I do not want another failed project costing RM52 million in my area,” he said.

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Pakatan Rakyat Slams Utusan Malaysia For Criticising Sultan of Selangor

KUALA LUMPUR
Wednesday, 24th March 2010

Pakatan Rakyat Assemblymen Are behind Sultan of Selangor who are against the Racist Organisation like PERKASA...DAULAT TUANKU!

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state lawmakers here are demanding that the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia apologise for criticising the Sultan of Selangor.

In the Malay daily’s weekend publication, Mingguan Malaysia, its editorial columnist, writing under the pseudonym Awang Selamat, questioned Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah for cancelling his plans to officiate right-wing Malay group Perkasa’s inaugural assembly on March 27.

The lawmakers also accused Awang of inciting racial hatred in his article.

“We would like to ask Awang who he was referring to with his statement ‘Why call yourself a Malay if you are too scared and following the lead of those who are eroding the position of Malays?’

This newspaper is no longer relevant to current Malaysian backdrop. It demised with the cancellation of Malayan Union. Utusan Malaysia=UMNO. For all Malaysians..DON'T BUY Utusan Malaysia and DON'T VOTE UMNO

“He also played up racial sentiments with his statement ‘They (Perkasa) have championed for the interests of Malays and Islam in accordance with the country’s constitutional framework. However, they are facing resistance from many parties, especially the non-Malays.’

“It seems that Awang Selamat is trying to show that his actions, together with Tun Dr Mahathir (Mohamad), to attend Perkasa’s first annual general assembly is better than the decision made by the Sultan of Selangor to cancel his attendance,” said Batu Caves assemblyman Amirudin Shari (picture), on behalf of a group of PR assemblymen, today.

In his Sunday column, Awang Selamat praised Perkasa for defending the rights of Malays and Islam.

"Who has become the shield to defend the Constitution of being challenged and rewritten if not for NGOs such as Perkasa. In fact, Perkasa under the leadership of (Datuk) Ibrahim (Ali) has sparked a new sense of confidence among the Malays.

“Do not forget Perkasa’s service. Don’t be trapped with the deception of those who want to threaten the status quo based on motives which are unknown.

“Awang is very thankful and grateful because Perkasa and several other NGOs have helped save the Malay political backbone in this country from collapsing. This was a result of a great conspiracy from the last general election which almost reached the summit,” Awang Selamat wrote.

The PR lawmakers also accused Awang Selamat and Perkasa of being disrespectful by using the monarchy for their political propaganda.

“We find that efforts to include the monarchy in the midst of a political crisis, with their narrow interpretation of the Constitution, is an act which is rude and pollutes the glory of the monarchy,” Amirudin added.

The state leaders also accused Awang of being hypocritical.

“We would like to ask Awang Selamat and Perkasa where were they when Bahasa Melayu was threatened and Malay reserve land increasingly eroded while only a few Malay politicians plundered the country for their self interests.

“We urge Awang Selamat to stop prostituting journalism for the specific interests of certain parties that deliberately want instability between different religions and races,” Amirudin said.

The lawmakers will table a motion in the state assembly’s next sitting on April 12 and identify what action can be taken against Awang Selamat and Utusan.

Amiruddin said that they would not be lodging a police report.

“We think it is better if we brought this issue to the assembly rather than lodging a police report because it can be discussed rationally,” he said.

If government keeping quiet and afraid to take action against Awang Selamat and Utusan Malaysia, there will be another Rwanda or Bosnia in this part of the world. People like Ibrahim Ali and Awang Selamat are not fit to live in this multi-racials country.Being the responsible citizen of this county,and who had sweat to ensure the freedom of this nation...I am appealing to this country to dispell those two , the frog and the monkey to pulau jerjak....Bukittunggal 

Perkasa was formed soon after Election 2008 and has turned into a strong pressure group representing those seeking to defend the constitutional position of the Malays and the ‘social contract’.

It has been at the forefront of lobbying the government to retain the affirmative action policies favouring Malays in the New Economic Model (NEM) scheduled to be announced at the end of this month.

Perkasa is worried that the NEM will increase Chinese dominance of economy.

The director of its economic bureau, Dr Zubir Harun, has said that Perkasa is worried that the NEM will have a Chinese agenda and warned that the Chinese community will use the next general election to take over the country.

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