By Nigel Edgar
KUCHING, Nov 2: Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How will table a private member’s motion against Minister of Utilities Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom in the coming State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting to seek apology for his Bengoh Dam remarks.
DUN speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar said the motion challenges the statement of the Minister, either quoted by the speaker or press statement by Minister of Utilities, and to require him to make a suitable apology in the august house to make disclosure of a factual matrix relating to the safety of the Bengoh Dam.
“The minister (Dr Rundi) said before, that the safety and integrity of the Bengoh Dam was not compromised and that the ministry had appointed contractors of experts to address any problems on the dam.
“See Chee How said there was no such agreement and that RM750,000 had been spent after the previous DUN sitting to repair the dam and therefore, for the minister to apologise,” he told reporters after a pre-DUN meeting here today.
According to various news reports last year, it was believed that there was water leakage on the dam’s downstream face but Dr Rundi, in August, assured that the dam was still in tip-top condition and there was nothing to be worried about.
He said the dam was designed for long-term and provided adequate and reliable water supply for the people of Kuching and its surrounding areas.
On a related note, Asfia said two separate private member’s motions would also be tabled by Pujut assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon and Pelawan assemblyman David Wong.
Dr Ting’s motion called for the ministers to reply all questions, either oral or written, on or before the last day of the current session. The motion suggested that ministers who failed to reply in time were to contribute RM10 for each day’s delay to a charitable organisation nominated by the member, said Asfia.
“The second motion (by David Wong) is to amend the standing order to fulfill the independence of DUN Sarawak from the interference of the executive branch, and the Public Account Committee to be chaired by members of the opposition like the Dewan Rakyat.
“The third is to implement the system of constituency development funds for all the assemblymen including the allocation for assemblymen’s office and administration needs including engaging research officers and staff for the assemblymen’s office,” he continued. — DayakDaily
