KUCHING, Jan 30: The proposed construction of the RM30 million 99-meter-tall flagpole is a waste of money and insensitive to the needs of many Sarawakians who face high inflation and rising costs of goods and services, says CSO Platform for Reform.
The non-governmental organisation (NGO) said that Jeddah in Saudi Arabia has the world’s tallest flagpole measuring 171m, which was built for only RM21 million.
Meanwhile, in Pretoria, South Africa, the 100m flagpole costs only RM5.4 million.
The NGO stressed that the proposed flagpole is not only more expensive than other flagpoles in the world, but it is proposed when rural residents still lack basic amenities such as water, electricity, roads, access to healthcare, and adequate network connectivity.
Hence, it calls on the Sarawak government to demonstrate good governance, especially in the approval of such a project and the proper management of funds.
“If indeed this is a CSR project, such funds should be used to improve citizens’ quality of life and not to construct overpriced flagpoles.
“The Sarawak government should encourage private companies to prioritise initiatives that align with the needs and interests of the public.
“The CSO Platform for Reform also urges private companies and the Sarawak government to be mindful of public interests and align with Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call for responsible spending in the country,” it said. — DayakDaily
