By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Feb 1: Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Dato Sri Tiong King Sing welcomes the idea of incorporating the RM30 million flagpole suggested by the Sarawak Premier’s Office as part of the State’s tourism infrastructure and attractions.
Tiong said that the proposal of setting up the flagpole in the vicinity of Fort Margherita is fine as long there are funds to proceed.
“If the Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, helps us (build the flag pole), we (MOTAC) have to thank him. We like it,” he said.
When informed that the flagpole is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project by a private company, Tiong replied that he encourages private companies to be involved in government projects, not just to assist the tourism sector but also other sectors.
“We want everybody to work together so that our economy can rebound and turn around quickly,” he added.
He made these remarks during his official working visit to the Sarawak Police Contingent Headquarters at Jalan Badruddin here today.
The proposal to build the flagpole has however raised a few eyebrows, and Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen recently questioned the significance of the said flagpole and the cost to build it.
He stressed that the money, could be used to do better things for the people, and if the project is to be taken by the private sector as a CSR project, then it must be made transparent to the people. — DayakDaily
