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KUCHING, Sept 4: The absence of transparency regarding the sponsor’s identity for the RM30 million flagpole in Kuching has cast doubts over the credibility of the sponsorship.
In pointing this out, special assistant to Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen, Michael Kong Feng Nian, said it also raises questions about potential underlying motives behind such a substantial contribution.
“As the guardians of public trust, the Sarawak government holds a moral obligation to reveal the identity of the sponsor, thus ensuring transparency and dismissing any concerns related to conflicts of interest,” he said in a statement today.
Kong said preliminary calculations by concerned Sarawakian professionals estimate that the expenses for the flagpole, even with a reasonable margin for profit, should only range from RM5.59 million to RM6.45 million.
He said that the vast disparity between this estimated cost and the reported RM30 million price raises questions about the breakdown of expenses where a detailed explanation is required for the remaining RM20 million, including all the costs incurred for the landscaping of the surrounding area.
He also stressed that it is the public’s right to be fully informed about the allocation of public funds, even if they are earmarked for corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
“We urge the Sarawak government to take immediate steps to disclose the sponsor identity, provide an exhaustive breakdown of costs associated, including the comprehensive master plan for the entire development to justify the expenditure, and make all financial records concerning government projects readily accessible for public scrutiny.
“Sarawak’s pursuit of transparency and accountability is a crucial step towards building public trust and ensuring responsible governance,” he added. — DayakDaily
