Monday, May 27, 2013

Debate on the Motion of Appreciation on the Address of His Excellency the Governor of Sarawak 23.5.2013 (Chinese Version) N.59吉都隆区砂劳越州立法议员周政新於砂劳越立法议会参与动议感谢州元首2013年5月20日所发表御词之辩论演词



议长先生,

我欲参与感谢州元首2013520日献词的辩论。

首先,我要感谢我们广大的人民,他们在刚过去的历史性的大选,无论经过如何或结果如何,毕竟我们大家都努力地去争取胜利。因为无论是民联或国阵,我们都相信能在建立更好的马来西亚方面做得更好。

我特别要感谢那些民行党和民联的支持者,在大选之前,在砂劳越我们仅有两位国会议员,现在民行党有五位,公正党有一位了。

议长先生,

建立更好的马来西亚,我们必须从选举程序开始。必须关注在这次选举中所有发生的不正常事件。我呼吁所有人民和我们在一起共同关注所有的不正常,及协助我们揭开真相。

议长先生,

我们的选举显示我们越来越远离我们的道德标准。我们必须摆正我们的目标,航向当年建国的理想前进。

大选的成绩已经清楚显示大部分的马来西亚人要有更好的治理,以及一个不贪污,不贪婪和不滥权的制度。有些都把责任毫无理据的归咎于种族关系,因为这是最容易的事。事实上,各种族都投给了改变。民联得到大部份的支持,再次确认了我们建立一个更好马来西亚的信念。

当我们正努力寻求在2020年建立成高收入经济体时,订下的目标是国民收入为每人USD15,000

但是这是无意义的,如果我们忘记了我们道德上的义务。如联合国八大千禧发展目标(MDGs)
所述。它们是:消除贫穷及饥饿;达至普遍的小学教育;提升性别平等並赋予女性权力;减少孩童死亡率;改进孕产妇保健;对抗艾滋病/疟疾及其他疾病; 发展确保环境,及全球发展合作。

8 MDGs是所有负责任的政府的主要任务及应该关注于平等 平等的享有、平等的机会、平等的获取资源、平等的享有能力所及的服务以及获得有人性尊严的尊重。

但相反的,我们不平等的鸿沟不断加大。在马来西亚收入不均正继续的严重。据2010年世界银行的报告,我们40%的底层工人只赚取总收入的14.3%, 而上层五份一的人,他们都是集团菁英,他们的收入占据了总收入的一半。剩下的只有一小部分的金钱,分配给这些真正推动经济的人群 一般的工人。我们的贫富鸿沟,事实上在亚洲仅次予巴布亚新几内亚。
马来西亚三份之一的工人,目前每月的收入少于RM700

雇员的收入仅占我国收入的28%,新加坡是40%,加拿大是51%。这现象部份原因是拜政策所赐,鼓励进口外劳以压低本地工资,以及不关注于培训和加强本地工人的技术。

我国必须认真面对这项挑战。因为人们已越来越认识到,不平等对经济发展是阻梗。

事实上,有些更认为不平等比引进外资、开放市场、政治体制,对经济发展所造成的影响更大。因为不平等是社会分裂的最根本。当鸿沟足够宽大时,将使大部分的人口减少教育和经济的机会。

不平等看似经济永续成长的阻碍。据研究所得已显示,有平等的存在,的确能产生更有效力的成果。例如在医药和教育方面有均等的机会,可保护和加强存在的人力资源。强大其运作力量,进而产生增值的经济成长。

议长先生,

另一个加宽不平等的问题是恒常存有更大的系统性问题的症候,称为国家垄断资本主义 有人称为公司王国

无论如何称之,它指的是经济与政治体系由大商业集团和财团利益控制。很常的情况是与国家同流合污。这种情形就孳生了不平等。这些可以从华尔街许多富裕的银行家的倒闭,被人以纳税人的钱搭救出来。因为他们都大得不能倒,而普通人则须失去房子和工作。

在马来西亚,借给朋党大笔数以十亿元的贷款,可从联邦政府中一笔勾销,而普通老百姓则须辛辛苦苦的还完最後的一分钱或倾家荡产。目下盛行的寻租(rent seeking)结构已产生一个垄断的制度。让选出来的一群朋党得益,直接商谈合约和甜心交易。很清楚的谁获利而谁吃亏。这制度的结构是让一群特选的朋党资本家得到好处,而一般人则需背负失却效率的包袱。从此造就了马来西亚收入更大的差距鸿沟。

议长先生,成功的经济的原则放诸四海皆准。而这5个原则是:

行之有效的经济:

1.它必须有社会的包容性。甘地曾说,一个国家的伟大是以她如何对待穷人、监守所的犯人和弱势者为衡量。因此任何政府必须确保好好的给予城市中的穷人及其他社会中被边缘化群体的庇护。

2.所有的发展,无论是公共或私人领域,都必须永续和全面合作。

3.必须在经济上团结。不平等的机会必须处理。这不仅攸关道德,同时也因为重大的平等将带来更大的经济效益。如果我们能解决教育、卫生、及拥有基本设施的成本,我们就能提高可使用的收入及降低机会杆,从而使人民能成为更好、更明智及更有企业心的劳动力。

4.垄断必须打破,使市场能有效的运作。

最後,必须有干净的管制。一个没有贪污的政府。前进至关闭贪污机会的第一步,就是采用公开竞标及公开让公众检验政府的合约。正如槟城的民联政府实行的。为确保干净的政府,他们的州行政委员会包括首席部长度必须完整的呈报他们的资产。

议长先生,

砂劳越州的潜力,甚至全国是强大的,如果我们实行正确的政策。这正是为何民联认为必须根本上做出改变,以建设砂劳越和马来西亚。

议长先生,

许多乡村居民到城市里讨生活赚城里的工资,也发觉单靠工资是无法攀上经济的阶梯, 而改为务农以赚取外快。

这是很自然的事和拥有企业的胸怀,再说从乡区来的兄弟姐妹和其他人,他们过去都是务农的。现在从工资省下一些储蓄,他们要投资在种植业,例如油棕。

如果想耕种,能获得5亩的土地,那么他们就能在农业方面有生产力,这是他们和城里人的共同愿望。

我认为这是积极的。人民自动自发的要有生产力及要求政府订出计划以符合他们在砂劳越的要求,尤其是在民都鲁吉都隆。这可以通过短期的土地租赁或其它的租借方式进行。

议长先生,

在吉都隆Sg. Plan3座组屋的住户,Block M P及其他,已经受到飘浮、滚滚的齼物困绕和影响呼吸。因为搬运泥土的运输工作正在他们的组屋旁进行,这距离只有我座位到议长先生的距离。

每天情况都很恶劣,当10轮大卡车载了泥土经过组屋卷起滚滚沙尘。也没见到水车的踪影,以便能时刻把沙尘压下。住户们已多次投诉,但情况仍然不变。

我看不出可以批给礼申的理由。在这种情况下,运输活动是紧贴如此多居民的组屋。

即使发出礼申,条件必须非常严格,以确保不影响当地居民的安宁生活。

现在组屋居民甚至无法晒衣服,更别说四处飞扬的沙尘,在厅堂、饭厅、睡房 在床上、厨房桌子上无处不有。

不幸的,许多须负责任的人却选择无视这整个事情。连执法组也不见人影。他们必须时刻在那儿。严格地执行工作,确保还给居民一个宁静的生活。
因此,我呼吁必须有一个替代的通路,在运泥工作继续展开前,在工地及路上的尘埃和泥沙必须时刻受到控制。

住在组屋的居民,他们不应受到这种污染。这种事情在其他国家是不会发生的。我们究竟是怎么了?

议长先生,

去年12月,立法议会结束後我马上会民都鲁。几乎每天我都读到卡车被盗的新闻。10轮的卡车!这种庞然大物和笨重的机器怎么那么容易盗取呢!

我在想若被盗了一辆已是太多了,但却不断地失窃,有15辆之多。

失主已向警方报案,甚至连车主停车场闭路电视所拍下偷车过程的录影也交给警方,但是盗窃仍然继续发生。

我们非常诧异,怎么如此猖獗,为何情况不能控制。一宗是车主在民都鲁美丹再也下车买份报纸,另一宗是车主到夜市买东西,半个时辰後回来他的4程驱动车已不见。

议长先生,

我们对此非常关心,因为如果偷车案件不马上遏制,将会越来越猖獗,盗贼将越是胆大包天。

议长先生,

在我们社会,这种罪犯对我们的破坏最大。因为他们威胁我们,也减低我们对政府的信心。无论当权政府是否关注我们的安全,我要呼吁警方采取所有的措施,提高士气对抗盗贼。

我欢迎新任警察总长丹斯里卡里的言论。当他上周履新时发言,他说打击罪犯是他的首要任务。我们寄望他及领导的警队能成功为我们大家重新恢复社会安宁及秩序。

尽管如此,我还是要感谢BTU区警长玛当先生及约翰警长给予的协助。

议长先生,

根据民都鲁Sepadok/Silas地区的伊班同胞透露,他们从1930年迄今,都在靠近Sepadok河附近买地埋葬他们的亡故者。但民都鲁发展局却在宪报公布这地区是为格盟那工业园第一期(增加)的一部份。

今年初,我接到一封他们写给民都鲁土地局日期是2013115日的信。但这之前他们已多次发信给政府。在Sepadok/Silas地区的长屋反对这么做,要求取消宪报有关格盟那工业园的公告,以新的公告代之,让长屋居民继续使用2012521日致县长的信中指明的土地作为墓地。

议长先生,

长屋居民深为此事寝食不安,因为这是与他们的亡故者葬身之地,而且早在1930年已如此。而这也是他们自己将後的最後归宿。我们都了解发展,但同时也要考虑到人民的需求。我希望这事件能圆满收场,让长屋居民能得到心灵的平静。

议长先生,

就在今年初,正月28日,约有2000名本地工人团结起来在沙玛拉如砂劳越再生能源走廊厂址举行示威。原因是他们要在该处的公司减少聘请外国工人,在沙玛拉如地区约有8000名外劳。
 据当地工人说,那些公司输入外国工人,是用來填补那些被停职或將被开除的本地工人。

本地工人要这些公司并向当局申诉必须坚守政府的政策,给予本地工人就职的优先权。他们认为外国工人只应该在缺乏本地才能和技术的时候才得以聘请之。

他们示威也因为他们觉得没得到公平的对待,他们的酬劳从平均为每小时12令吉被减为6令吉。而外国工人则是每小时20令吉。外国工人也获得更好的起居条件和交通便利。本地工人一般上都害怕,他们感到这种做法不公平和歧视本地工人。

议长先生,

本地工人多数都修完中学和来自乡区。有些更是从西马半岛回归的工人,他们愿意在更恶劣的环境中工作,主要是能就近照顾年老的父母,而一些是有在学的孩子,他们想看顾家庭。

看来他们的愿望是破灭的,当这些公司开始招聘更多的外国劳工以取代他们的工作。这些公司甚至为外国工人主办长达两三个月的技术训练课程,而本地工人是永远没有这种机会的。

因此,我吁请政府必须检讨政策及程序,允许本地工人继续受聘于砂劳越再生能源走廊计划。我们的政府永远不应该为了吸引国家的直接投资环境而忽略了本地工人无论是半熟练或熟练工人的福祉。我们必须以我们的能力追求一个持续的发展方法去促使国家进步。

议长先生,

我这里有一位地址是民都鲁,Parkcity商业中心Ph4 262 263底楼的Wong Kai Ting先生,他的砂劳越电力局户口号码是100002154959100002154062.

电力局在一年前已换过他的电表,而且马上开了57,825.14令吉和36,688.10令吉的电费单给他命他缴清若不电供将被截断。

黄先生非常惊讶并感到此事对他不公,因为他没做错事也从未对电表做任何手脚。我认为无论怎么说电力局的手段太蛮横了。还钱要不截断电供,只因为过去你的电耗少而换了电表後现在耗电多。有很多原因是可以促成耗电量增加的。



电力局的不近人情态度是不能接受的。我呼吁电力局采取一个合理的法子解决这类的案子。我同意哥打圣多沙议员的说法,催讨任何拖欠,回溯期不应该超过3个月。

议长先生,

许多本地和来自外地在砂劳越中央医院接受电疗的癌症病人对院方一些行事的方式很不以为然。

一些从外地来的病人,患有低白血球症必须急速验血,但却不准先做验血。他们必须等到中午才进行验血,如此一来他们做电疗的时间就不充足了。

对那些买了回程机票者更不利,他们没选择的只好把机票作废,耗更多的钱买新机票和住宿费用。

这些种种都加重病黎的负担呀,议长先生。

我了解电疗中心的工作繁重也缺乏人手,但这种情况已存在多时,我吁请医院当局速速关注这问题。为病黎提供良好和有效率的服务,以加强癌症病人的康复程序。

在此,我也藉此恭祝我们所有的伊班同胞加威节快乐。谢谢。

Debate on the Motion of Appreciation on the Address of His Excellency the Governor of Sarawak 23.5.2013



Speech by Chiew Chiu Sing ADUN N59 Kidurong on the debate on the Motion of Appreciation on the
Address of His Excellency the Govenor of Sarawak on 23rd of May, 2013 in the Sarawak State Legislative Council, Kuching, Sarawak.

Mr. Speaker,

I rise to join in the debate on the Motion of Appreciation on the address of His Excellency the Govenor of Sarawak which was so graciously delivered  in this August House on the 20th of May, 2013.


First of all I wish to thank all of our peoples who had participated in the historic general election just past, what ever it was,  and however it had turned out, we had all worked hard to  win, because each of us whether it is from PR or BN, believe that we  can do a better job in building a better Malaysia.

I wish to thank especially all those who had supported the DAP and Pakatan Rakyat. Before the election,  we had two MPs from Sarawak, now we have six, 5 DAPs and 1 PKRs.

Mr. Speaker,

In building the better Malaysia,  we have to start from our electoral process where we must  account for all of the irregularities that  happened during the last election,  and we call upon all peoples to come forward to share with us all the irregularities and help us to get to the truth. 

Mr. Speaker,

Our elections  show that we are moving further and further away from our moral compass. We must steer ourselves to set the course towards the ideals that founded our nation.

The election results had shown that the majority of Malaysians want better governance and a system that is not corrupt, feeding off greed and abuses of power.

Some are quick to blame it baselessly on race because that is the easiest, but in fact people of all races had voted for change. Pakatan majority of support from the electorate reaffirms our hope in building a better Malaysia.

And while our nation is seeking to become a high- income economy by the year 2020. The stated target for achieving this status is a GNI (Gross National Inome) per capita of USD 15,000.

But there is no point of attaining the high-income status if we we forget our moral obligations like  as stated in the UN eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and they are:-

-to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger,

-achieving universal primary education,

-promoting gender equality and empowering women, reducing child mortality rates,

-improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases and

-ensuring environment and developing global partnership for development. 

These eight MDGs are essentially the duty of every responsible government and is focused on equality - equality of access, equality of opportunity, equality of availability of resources, equality of affordable services and perhaps equality of being respected with human dignity.

But to the contrary, our inequality gap is widening. Income inequality is worsening in Malaysia.

According to a 2010 World Bank report, the bottom 40  per cent of our workforce earns only 14.3 per cent of the total income, while the top fifth, mostly of corporate elites,  takes nearly half the pie.

Little money is only distributed to the people who actually move the economy- the average worker.  Our rich-poor gap has in fact risen to be the  highest in Asia after Papua New Guinea.

One third of our of our Malaysian workers currently earn less than RM700 a month.

Employee wages make up only 28 % of our national income, while the figure is 40% in Singapore and 51 per cent in Canada. This is due in part to policies that encourage low-skill foreign labour that suppress the wage market and a lack of attention to upskilling and enhancing domestic workers.

This is a challenge that our country must face carefully. It is increasingly believed that inequality is an impediment to economic growth.

In fact, some have even suggested that inequality may have a stronger effect on growth compared to other factors such as foreign investment, market accessibility, and the strength of political institutions. 

This is  because inequality is a fundamental fracture in a society. When the gap is wide enough, it will lead to reduced educational and economic opportunities for a large segment of the population.

While inequality is seen to be an obstacle to sustained economic growth, studies have shown that the presence of equality can actually produce more efficient outcomes.

For example, equality of opportunity in health and education will directly protect and enhance the pool of available human capital, strengthening its operational capacity and thus enabling value -added economic growth.

Mr.  speaker,

Another problem with widening levels of inequality is the fact that it is often a symptom of a larger systemic problem called state monopoly capitalism. Some terms it 'corporatocracy"

Whatever you call it, it refers to the control of economic and political systems by big businesses or corporate interest, in most cases in collusion with thte state. Such a scenario is a breeding ground for inequality.

This can be seen in Wall Street where affluent bankers who failed,  get bailed out with taxpayer money because they are 'too big to fail' whilst ordinary folks lose their house and jobs.

In Malaysia huge billion ringgit loans to cronies get written off from the Federal Government whilst the ordinary people have to pay to the last cent or go bankrupt. 

The prevailing rent-seeking structure has produced a monopolistic system that benefits a select group of cronies benefiting from directly negotiated contracts and sweetheart deals. it is clear who benefits and who loses out.

The system is structured to favour a select group of crony capitalists, while the people at large have to bear the burden of inefficiency. Hence, contributing to a further widening income gap in Malaysia.

Mr. Speaker, the fundmentals of a successful economy are the same all over there world. and the 5 fundamental characteristics of an economy that works are :

Firstly, it must be socially inclusive. As Gandhi once said, a nations's greatness is measured by how it treats its poor, imprisoned and the weak. Hence, it is incumbent upon any government to ensure the selling of the urban poor and other socially, marginalised groups.

secondly, all developments must be sustainable engaging both the public and private sector for full commitment.

Thirdly, there must be economic solidarity. Inequality of opportunity must be addressed, not only for moral reasons but also because greater equality will result in better economic outcomes.

If we are able to address issues such as the cost of education, healthcare and access to infrastructure, we will be able to raise disposable income and lower the opportunity bar, which will then empower the people and produce a better, smarter and more entrepreneurial workforce.

Fourthly, monopolies must be broken allowing markets to be operate efficiently.

And lastly there must be clean governance- A government free of corruption. A step towards closing the opportunity for corruption  would be introducing the open competitive tenders and disclosure of government contracts for public scrutiny, as being practiced by the Penang PR government.

In ensuring clean governance they have also their State Executive council including the Chief Minister to make full public declaration of their assets.

Mr. Speaker,

The potentials for Sarawak and in fact the whole country is immense when we embark on the right policies and that is why we PR sees the need for a fundamental change to build a better Sarawak and Malaysia.

Mr.Speaker,

So many of the rural folks who had come to town to find a living through earning wages in town,  are finding out that it is not enough to just rely on wages to move up to the economic ladder and had turned to farming to earn extra income.

This is only natural and great entrepreneurship for these our rural brothers and sisters  as so many of them  who had come to town were farmers before. And now that they have a little savings from wages, they want to invest in planting, like for example palm oil.

It is their wish and also those in the urban who want to do farming to be allocated farm land, say of 5 acres so that they can also be agriculturally productive.

I see this as a positive, the  peoples' initiative to become productive and urge that the government work out a plan to meet their needs for all those in Sarawak and especially for those at the Kidurong area in Bintulu. This can be in terms of land  rental for a short term or other measures of land lease.

Mr. Speaker,

Flat dwellers of the three end blocks of the Sg. Plan Flats, Kidurong, namely Block M, P and another, had been suffering and suffocating from the rolling and airborne dirt  as a result of earth moving and transporting works on the road  right by the flat, about the distance from Mr. Speaker place to my seat here.

The situation is bad each day, when the ten wheelers,  carrying the earth,  rolled by the flats,  kicking up so much dirt in the air.

There was not even a watering truck seen, to keep the dirt down at all times.  The residents had made complains and complains, but the situation persisted.

I cannot see how a license can be issued,  in a situation like this,  where the earth transporting activity is done so close to the flats which lived so many people.

And even if a license were to be  issued,  the conditions must be extra tight,  to ensure a complete peaceful living environment and non disturbance of the people living there!

Right now the flat folks  cannot even dry their clothes, not to mention the dirt which is everywhere, in the living room, dinning room, bed room- on the bed and  kitchen table and where not.

Unfortunately, so many who are  responsible, had chosen to close an eye on the whole matter and enforcement are no where to be seen either. They must be there all the time   to ensure that the works are carried out in strict accordance to special conditions for the peaceful living of the people there.

It is therefore urged that either an alternative route be sought,  or the dirt and dust on the site and on the road must  be completely controlled at all times, before the earth works can carry on further. Folks staying at these flats  do not deserve the pollution like this at all. Things like this just done happen in other countries, what is happening to ours ?

Mr. Speaker,

Last December, right after our DUN sitting, I went home to  Bintulu and almost everyday I read of report in the news of lorry missing, big lorries - ten wheelers ! I mean how could such a big, noisy and clumsy  machine be stolen that easily !

One would imagine that  if just one lorry were stolen,  it would have been too many already. But it kept on being stolen until about 15 of them were gone !!

Police reports were made and even clips of the act of  stealing the lorries in process were taken by the CCTV in the owners' yard. The clips  were given to the police, but the stealing went on.
One could not help but wonder how could this happened so daringly  and how come  the situation was not overcome and the thieves arrested in the first instant when just one lorry was stolen.

Last week,  I read of similar thefts in Bintulu again, this time it's the 4 wheel drives vehicles being stolen. One was stolen when the owner went down to buy newspaper at Medan Jaya, Bintulu  and the other was, when another owner went to the night market to buy some thing and by the time he got back in about half hour, the 4 wheel drive was gone.

Mr. Speaker,

We are very concerned about this, because if the stealing is  not stopped right the way,  it will  continue on and  become ever more rampant. The thieves will become even  more daring.

Mr. Speaker,

Such act of crime in our society is most damaging, as it threatens us and weaken our confidence  in our government whether the govenment of the day  really cares about our safety or not and I wish to urge that the police to take all measures to step up its forces and fight the crimes all the way. 

Having said the above, I must however thank the BTU KPD Mr. Madan and Inspector John who were always helpful when being asked for assistance.

I welcome the  new IGP,  Tan Sri Kahlid's remarks,  when he took office last week,  that fighting crime is his first priority, we wish for him and all his man's  success to restore the peace and order for all of us.


Mr. Speaker,

According to the Iban in the Sepadok/Silas, Bintulu,  area, they had been burying their deads at their present burial grounds near the Sepaok river even before the 1930s until today.

But the Bintulu Development Authority had also gazetted the area to be a part of the Phase I (Tambahan) of the Kemena Industrial Estate.
  
At the beginning of this year, I have receieved a letter dated 15th of January, 2013, written to the Land and Survey Dept in Bintulu, and letters before this, to the government,  where the longhouse folks of the Sepadok/Silas area had objected to this and asked that the gazette for the Kemena Estate of that specific area be cancelled and a new gazette be issued to the longhouse folks for them to continue on  to  used the said land as inidcated in the letter  dated 21st of May 2012 addressed to the District Office for their burial grounds.

Mr. Speaker,

The longhouses folks are very much been agrived by such matter,  as this is a matter of the deads whom they have buried even before the 1930s and a  place for themselves when they should go one day. We all appreciate the  development but at the same time we take care of the needs of our people as well, and I wish that this matter can be solved amicably to give back the land and  peace of mind to the longhouse folks there.

Mr. Speaker,

On the 28th of January, at the beginning of this year. about 2000 local workers banded together and did a demonstration at the SCORE site in Samalaju.They domonstated because they wanted the companies there, to reduce the number of foriegn workers, estimated to be numbering around 8000 on sites within the Samalaju area.

According to the local workers, the companies had brought in the foreign workers and use them to replace terminated and retrench local workers.

The local workers had wanted the companies AND appeal to the authorities to uphold the Government policy of giving job priorities to local workers. They said that foreign workers should only be taken in at certain level when there is not enough local worker talents and skills available.

They domonstrated also because they felt that they have been unfairly treated where most of their wages were also reduced from an average of twelve ringgit to about six ringgit per hour. The foreign labourers were paid an average of twenty ringgit per hour and  also provided with better lodging facilities and transport to work. The local workers were in general afraid , and they  felt that the practice of the companies had not been fair and it discriminated against the local workers.

Mr. Speaker,

Most of the local workers had come from rural areas,  after completing their secondary schools. Some came back from working in Semanajung Malaysia and are willing to work in harsher condition in order to be close to their aging parents while some have school going children and wanted to be close to their families.

It seems that their hopes were dashed when the companies began to recruit more foreign workers and are taking over their jobs. The companies even have skill trainning programmes for foreign workers lasting for a duratioon of two to three months while local workers never received any.

I therefore urge that the government should review its policies and procedures to allow local workers to continue to be employed in the SCORE projects. Our government should never neglect the well being of our local labourers, both semi skill and skill workers, at the expense of keeping the country direct investiment  environmnet attractive. We should pursue a sustainable development approach in our efforts to progress the country.

Mr. Speaker,

I have here a Mr. Wong Kai Ting of 262 and 263 Ground Floor, Parkcity Commerce Square Ph 4, Bintulu with SESCO Account No. 100002154050 and Account No.100002154062 respectively.

SESCO had changed his meters about a year ago and right after that slapped  him with a bill of RM57,825.14 and RM 36,688.10 respectively and demanded that they pay up or the supply will be disconnected.

Mr. Wong was shocked and felt this to be most unfair as he said he had done no wrong and had never tampered with the meter. I felt that SESCO is being too heavy handed, whatever she says, is it. Pay up or I cut your electricity, because last time your usage was less and now more after the meter change. So Pay.

Mr. Speaker, There could be many reasons why the usage was more.

SESCO' s harsh standing  attitude in this case is not acceptable and I urged that SESCO come up with a reasonable policy to solve such cases. I agree with Member for Kota Santosa that any arreas should not be traced back for more than 3 months.   

Mr. Speaker,
Many of the cancer patients from the local area and outstations who are getting the chemo therapy treatment at the Sarawak General Hospital are very unhappy with the way how some the things are run there.

Some of those who had come from outstations and who were running low on white blood cells and have to do blood test fast, yet are not allowed to get the blood test done first. They have to wait till noon to get the blood test done and by the time that is done they cannot do the chemo therapy anymore, as the time would not enough.

This is worse for those who had come from outstation and who had bought the return ticket, they have no choice then but to throw away the ticket and spend more money on new ticket and lodging some more.

All these are adding on to the burden and pain of the patient, Mr. Speaker.

I understand that the work load at the chemo centre is heavy yet the facilities and hands are not enough,  but the problem has been like that for quite some time already and I urge that the Hospital to look into this matter quickly so as to provide the good and efficient service to our patient there thus enhancing the healing process of these cancer patients.

And with that, Mr.  Speaker, Selamat Hari Gawai to all my Dayak friends and Thank you.