By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 3: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen has called on the Premier of Sarawak to provide immediate answers to three pending questions related to the State’s financial management, including the government’s substantial investment in Affin Bank Berhad, which were submitted during the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) sitting in October last year.
Chong, who is also Padungan assemblyman, said that it has been more than six months since he submitted the questions, yet the answers to the three questions are still pending from the Premier’s office.
He revealed that out of the 10 questions he had submitted for the November 2024 sitting, he has received answers to only seven. The remaining three, he said, are crucial and deserve prompt and transparent responses from the Sarawak administration.
“Normally, the answers would be delivered and emailed to me. So far, for the three questions, I have received none. On Monday, the deadline for the submission of questions for the coming DUS sitting (May 19 to 28) will close, yet the previous questions remain unanswered. Such is the efficiency of the Sarawak Premier’s Office? That is absolutely not acceptable,” he said in a statement today.
The three unanswered questions are:
Affin Bank stake acquisition – Chong had asked the Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg to disclose the cost of increasing the government’s stake in Affin Bank from 4.81 per cent to 31.25 per cent, including the acquisition price from Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT) and Boustead Holdings Berhad, and the expected return on investment.
Serba Dinamik investment losses – He also queried the government’s total investment in the now-liquidated Serba Dinamik Holdings Berhad and the resulting financial loss to the State.
Development vs alternative funding – The final question sought clarification on the differences in terms of funding sources, approval mechanisms, and financial procedures between development expenditure allocations and those under alternative funding mechanisms.
Chong emphasised that all three questions are tied directly to the State’s financial management and are highly relevant given Sarawak’s increased spending in recent years.
“Though we have increased our revenue tremendously, it does not mean that we have a limitless source of funds. Key principles like transparency and accountability in financial management must still be strictly adhered to,” he said.
He further asserted that not providing the answers not only undermines accountability but also shows “disrespect and disdain” for the institution of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, where elected representatives have a constitutional right to obtain information from the executive.
“In the premises, I call upon the Premier to provide answers to the above questions without further delay,” Chong concluded. — DayakDaily
