By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Nov 26: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing Jemut said he had not been told about the Sarawak government investing in a child specialist hospital project in Kuala Lumpur with a local firm.
He added that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had neither disclosed this matter to him nor to the State Cabinet.
“Normally on things of this nature, the chief minister will call members of his colleagues in the state cabinet and tell us what the state is doing,” he said to reporters after presenting Minor Rural Project (MRP) grants to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in his office at BaitulMakmur Building here yesterday.
The Sarawak government’s involvement in the hospital project was highlighted by Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen in Kuching yesterday. He said he was alerted of this matter by the Ministry of Finance, and he wanted Abang Johari to explain the reason for this joint venture.
Chong revealed that the project cost RM606 million and that the state’s Financial Secretary Office owns 3.92 million shares while Zecon Medicare Sdn Bhd owns 4.8 million shares.
Masing said since he was not aware of this project, he had not taken this matter seriously, thus far.
“I do not take it as a gospel truth until the state government mentions to us and until the chief minister tells us,” he said. — DayakDaily
