Why reject my questions, Chong asks S'wak speaker

Kota Sentosa state assemblyperson Chong Chieng Jen has criticized state legislative speaker Awang Asfia Awang Nasar for rejecting two of his questions for the question and answer session of next week's assembly meeting.

Chong, who is also the Bandar Kuching member of parliament, said the speaker rejected the two questions because they breached the august house's Standing Order 20(1) (a), (c) and (l).

The first question was to the chief minister to state:

a) In the last 15 years, the list of the parcels of land alienated to companies whose shareholders consist of the son, daughter, brothers and/or sister of the honourable chief minister and the acreage of these parcels of land;

b) The premium charged by the state government for the alienation of such land to these companies;

c) Are these land alienated to these companies through open tender? If not, what are the reasons for alienating these parcels of land to these companies?

The second question was to ask the chief minister to state:

a) given that the Syarikat SESCO Berhad has entered into agreement Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd to purchase electricity power generated by Bakun Dam at the price of 6.25 sen/KwH, whether the government has any plan to reduce the domestic, commercial and industrial electricity tariff of SESCO for the local consumers, businessmen and industrialists?

b) who will be the beneficiaries of the cheap electricity generated by the Bakun Dam?

Expressing indignation that his questions had been rejected, Chong said there is “nothing wrong” with them, he told reporters yesterday.

He said they were fair questions and ought not to have been rejected.

Chong also insisted that the two questions did not breach the clauses of Standing Order 20(1)(a),(c) or (l).

Clause (a) states that a question shall not include the names of persons or statement not strictly necessary to render the question intelligible, while Clause (c) states that a question shall not contain any argument, inference, opinion, imputation, epithet or misleading, ironical or offensive expression.

Clause (l) states that a question shall not be asked seeking information set forth in acceptable documents or ordinary works of reference.

Chong said the people have every right to know how much of state land has been alienated to Taib's family members (above, with Taib in the middle) and to their companies.

“If the chief minister has nothing to hide, he should allow the questions to go through,” he said.

Chong also stated that he had no improper motive nor was he suggesting any imputation in asking Taib to list out the parcels of lands alienated to his family members.

He also asked the speaker (right) why he was so protective of Taib when questions were asked about the chief minister.

On his questions concerning electricity tariff, Chong said the state government should make public who the real beneficiaries of the cheap electricity generated by the Bakum dam are.

“I don't really understand why this question was rejected unless there is something to hide.

“Or is there any top secret that the government does not want us all to know?” he asked.

Chong said despite the rejection he would pursue the questions in one way or the other.

On Friday, the speaker had said that he had rejected 10 questions submitted for the questions and answer sessions of the assembly, which will sit from June 20 to 29.

Chong also criticized state Public Health and Environment Minister Wong Soon Koh for saying that he would be under attack by the DAP legislators at the assembly meeting.

“I can assure Wong that our attacks and criticisms will be on corruption, abuse of power and cronyism, and if any of the state ministers are involved, we would deal with them accordingly,” he said.

“Our track records show that we speak of corruption, abuse of power and cronyism by any state ministers, regardless of their party positions or from which party they come from,” he added.