Speech by Wong Ho Leng on the 10MP in Dewan Rakyat on Monday, 14^thJune 2010:

Speech on the 10MP

Thank you Mr Speaker for giving me the opportunity to participate in the debate on the 10MP.

1. Corruption in Malaysia/Sarawak

The 10MP will map the development of our country for the next 5 years. The statistics on corruption in the last 10 years show that efforts to combat corruption had failed miserably. Corruption has become worse and worse.

Unless this is changed, Malaysia will be bankrupt in 2019, not because of subsidies but because of corruption.

The fact that Corruption Perception Index dropped from No. 47 in 2008 to No. 56 in 2009 spoke volume on the failure of the Najib administration in combating corruption.

Examples of corruption are many. Examples are the PKFZ scandal, the theft of fighter jet engines and found sold in Uruguay, when submarine purchased from France could not submerge, when 60% of development funds were siphoned off without reaching the targets, the people in Malaysia have to agree that Malaysia is now on a "burning platform".

When not a single big fish in the PKFZ scandal had been nabbed, no one would expect the big fish in the corrupt waters of Sarawak to be nabbed either.

Taib Mahmud is the longest serving chief minister in Malaysia. He was first appointed CM in 1981 and he is still CM in 2010, a total of 29 years.

Corruption is epitomized in Sarawak in the manner in which projects were awarded to companies of family members of the Chief Minister.

Taib's politics of development is "politics of discrimination, nepotism and corruption".

His policy on land and NCR land, the award of timber concessions, and government contracts are examples of injustice and unfairness. Beside the Chief Minister's family members, many well connected leaders in the SUPP had also become richer.

Many of the problems facing Sarawak can be traced back to the problem of having one person holding the powerful post of chief minister for too long. The three most powerful ministries in Sarawak are:

• Chief Minister's Office

• Finance Ministry

• Ministry of Planning and Resource Management

These three ministries are headed by one person: Taib Mahmud.

In the 2009 State Budget, out of the estimated Sarawak Government Operating Expenditure of RM1,189.6 million, RM590.2 million (49.6%) was allocated to the three ministries headed by the Chief Minister, leaving the remaining RM599.4 million (50.4%) to be shared by the other 10 ministries.

This concentration of power and resources in one person is unhealthy for the development of democracy and Sarawak. To quote from a famous historian and moralist, Lord Acton: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

DAP and Pakatan Rakyat stand for good governance. Taib Mahmud's BN has a track record of bad governance. Taib's family members' companies control the most lucrative contracts and businesses, impoverishing the rakyat while making life difficult for small businesses.

Suffice to mention just 3 of these companies.

• CMS Group of Companies

• Naim Cendara Sdn Bhd

• Titanium Management Sdn Bhd

The MACC should give similar treatment to all who are suspected of corruption. They should investigate whether there are corrupt practices in the award of federal and state Government contracts in Sarawak.

2. Flood Issues

Floods are frequent occurrences in Sarawak. Politicians had spoken about the issue for many years but it does not look like the federal government had been serious in looking into the matter.

We had been told that 2 major projects were being implemented under the 9th Malaysia Plan in the Kuching Division. They are the Kuching Flood Mitigation Project and the Bau Town Mitigation Project. In Sibu, there was the Sibu Flood Mitigation Project. In Bintulu, the BN said that they had identified various drainage improvement works for Sungai Plan Besar and Sungai Sebiew Catchment in Bintulu Town. In Miri, the BN said that there was the Miri Town Drainage Master Plan Study.

How successful had these flood mitigation projects been? The 9th MP is coming to an end, and we do not see much improvement to flood mitigation in the major towns in Sarawak.

Over the past 15 years, floods occur very frequently in Sibu. The primary cause of Sibu flood is the bottle neck and siltation along the bed of the Rejang River. The bottlenecks and siltation are caused by indiscriminate timber extraction upstream since the 1980's.

In certain places in the middle of the river which I had personally measured, the Rejang River is a mere 6 1/2 feet deep.

The most practical solution to solve Sibu flood is to remove the bottle necks and the dredge the river bed.

Flood caused millions of losses to properties in Sibu every year.

Despite the pleas of the Sibu folks and associations that the Government must allow dredge the Rejang riverbed and remove the bottle necks, the Government has steadfastly ignored the pleas.

Based on 2001 data, the amount of silt coming down from upper reaches of Batang Rejang and its tributaries was estimated to be 60 million metric tones per annum. However, based on figures given by Department of Land and Survey, the total volume of sand extracted from Batang Rejang and Batang Igan from year 2002 to March 2008 totaled only 3.085 million metric tones. The cause of flood in Sibu is quite obviously siltation.

The BN Government has proposed to build bunds by raising the road levels in Sibu. However, what is the use of raising the road levels when water will continue to flood the houses which level will not be raised?

I have always believed that if the river is blocked because of siltation, then the solution is to dredge the river. If the artery to the heart is blocked, then the solution is to do an angioplasty before the person dies.

The Rejang River is sick. But it is the lifeline of the people in Sibu. The Government should save it from its imminent death.

Can the federal government explain why the flood mitigation plans for Sibu do not include dredging the Rejang River?

Contractors and developers can dredge the sand from the Rejang river bed for land fill and for housing development - since sand is essential material for buildings, housing price will also drop. It is a win-win situation.

As of now, I learned that RM300m for flood mitigation had been allocated under the 9th Malaysia Plan. It was sometimes reported that the sum was RM400m. Sometimes the BN leaders in Sibu said the sum was only RM237m. Why the change in the figures? The people have the right to know whether the projects were awarded through public tenders, whether all these sums are utilised for flood mitigation or whether millions of these federal funds had been siphoned off or squandered.

3. Employment Opportunity

At p.13 of 10MP it is said:

"We need to leverage not only on Malaysians in the country but also those outside. The Government will establish a Talent Corporation, which will have as one of its key functions, the task of actively sourcing top talent including among the Malaysian diaspora."

Many professional and non-professional people from all racial groups are leaving the country because of lack of employment opportunities, corruption, lack of democracy and unjust policies of the BN.

Brain-drain impedes investment in Malaysia and reduces global competiveness.

According to the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF), 785,000 Malaysians are working overseas.

If the country continues to be corrupt, if the country does not give people hope, and if there is no equal promotion opportunity irrespective of race and religion, then even the Talent Corporation will fail to lure talented Malaysians back to our country.

The problem must be tackled at the source. Instead of asking them to come back, we must make sure that they do not wish to leave the country.

A "disillusioned" surfer wrote in a blog on 24/12/2009:

"A higher salary overseas is undeniably a factor in Malaysians who choose to stay abroad upon graduating but for a lot of people, it is hardly the main factor. Many of us have families and friends back home and would gladly accept less pay to be at home if it wasn't for the overtly discriminatory policies which have remained unchanged and probably will continue on in the forseeable future. I am a fresh medical graduate working in the UK and I will openly admit that under today's circumstances I would not consider working back home even if the salary is similar or higher, even. Besides, if I'm going to be treated as a foreigner in my own country why not be a foreigner elsewhere and earn better pay while at it?"

It is not an option to bring in foreign talent. We have about 100,000 jobless graduates. What are we going to do with them?

Under the BN Government, there is a dire lack of employment opportunities in Sibu. Youngsters (Chinese, Malays, Melanaus and Ibans) are looking for greener employment pastures in Penang, Selangor, Johor and Singapore.

I agree that the Government must be transformed in order to transform Malaysia (p.65 of 10MP). I believe that the people can achieve the transformation through the Pakatan Rakyat. Only Pakatan Rakyat practices Competency, Accountability and Transparency (CAT) governance. Our country can nurture, attract and retain talents only through CAT governance.

4. Education - University

For any society to grow, the Government must look after the future generations. There must be smart investment into education, especially tertiary education.

Under the 10MP the Government plans to develop world class educational institutions, particularly universities. (p.81 10MP)

That is most welcome.

But how would Sibu enjoy the benefit of this 10MP if it has no university?

Bintulu has a branch university campus. Mukah has a branch campus. Miri and Kuching have university campuses. Sibu had none despite the promises of the SUPP since 1996.

In the 2008 Parliamentary election, the SUPP promised TAR college in Bintangor if its candidate win in Sarikei. This promise had been disowned by the SUPP.

In 2001 the SUPP promised to bring in University of South Australia (UNISA). It turned out later that this was a fat lie.

It only shows that the SUPP/BN cannot be trusted when coming to promises.

In the recent Sibu by-election the PM announced that Laila Taib College will be elevated to become a University in 2012.

But how can it become a good university if it is elevated from a college to become a university just because of a by-election?

I appeal for a full fledged university in Sibu. It must be of sufficient quality to meet the needs of Sibu.

Sibu parents understand that there is a need to invest in their children's education. They have no choice but send their children to study outside Sibu for the simple reason that there is no university in Sibu.

The problem is that only about 5% of the graduates return to Sibu. There is an acute brain drain from Sibu. The children are not returning because under the BN, Sibu does not provide them with hope. Parents cannot see their children because their children are not returning. Sibu has been on a "burning platform". That is why there was a "burning" desire on the part of the Sibu voters to vote for "Change". That is the reason why we must have Pakatan Rakyat.

5. Oil Royalty

Sabah and Sarawak should also enjoy the fruits of a high income nation.

An issue close to the hearts of Sarawakians and Sabahans is the oil royalty.

By virtue of an agreement entered into in 1976, Sarawak and Sabah were given only 5% oil royalty in exchange for oil exploitation rights in Sarawak and Sabah.

The 5% oil royalty is unfair. It is too little for both states.

In his Memoir, "A Life Twice Lived", the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Yong, who was the deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak, wrote at p.216:

"Negotiation on Oil and Gas

"Sarawak's relationship with the Federal government was fairly good, but there were conflicting views on the State's ownership of the extensive gas and oil reserves which are found on the continental shelf, off the coast of Sarawak. We, in Sarawak, maintained that all rights should belong to the State, but the Federal government, for obvious reasons, had a different view. We put up a strong representation to the extent of referring the issue to the Court and obtaining Queen Counsel's opinion. The matter was partially resolved by the proposal to share the royalty from oil and gas extracted and to establish a National Petroleum Corporation in which Sarawak was to be given a certain share. However, the vital question remained as to what exactly Sarawak's share of the royalty would be. Abdul Rahman Yakub and I had numerous meetings with the Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak, the Finance Minister, Tun Tan Siew Sin and other officials, but with little progress.

"During our negotiations our position on royalty was severely weakened when the Federal government somehow managed to get Tun Mustapha Harun, the Chief Minister of Sabah, to agree to a paltry 5% as royalty for Sabah's oil and gas extracted. How could he agree to such ludicrous terms on behalf of the State? The Prime Minister, Tun Razak, then appealed to Sarawak to follow suit on the ground of national interest. He maintained that the Malaysian Royal Navy would have to bear the expenses of safeguarding the continental shelf. We reluctantly accepted the terms. But to many Sarawakians, this inequitable arrangement amounted to a give-away of our precious natural resources."

The Sarawak Government had been saying that they had repeatedly asked the federal government to review the 5% rates.

It means that even the present BN Government in Sarawak agrees that the rates are too low. But why has the federal government not reviewed the rate despite the fact that the rate has been 5% for over 30 years?

In view of the backwardness of Sabah and Sarawak, the federal government should increase the oil royalty from the present 5% to 20%.

If Pakatan Rakyat wins federal power we shall give Sarawak and Sabah 20% oil royalty.

Sabah is the poorest state in Malaysia. Instead of enjoying the money from the rich oil reserves, the state is facing chronic power shortage frequently.

Sarawak is the 4th poorest state in Malaysia. We need not be poor had the federal government treated us fairly.

The PM had said many times that Sarawak and Sabah are the BN's "Fixed deposit" states. But has the BN Government reciprocated Sarawak and Sabah for our contributions?

The rich oil resources from Sabah and Sarawak have been sucked away and depleted and the money used to build the Twin Towers and Putrajaya.

Last year, the Government ceded the oil rich areas of Blocks L and M to Brunei. The loss to Malaysia amounts to RM320 billion. Sarawak lost because no revenue will come from Block L and M.

The people in Sarawak demand to know why our sovereignty had been compromised and our oil reserves given to Brunei? Why was the government of Sarawak and the people not consulted?

6. Sarawak a neglected "Colony"

In 1963, Sabah and Sarawak joined to form Malaysia as equal partners of the Sates of the Federation of Malaya.

James Wong Kim Min, a former Minister in Sarawak and who was instrumental in getting Sarawak to join to form Malaysia, said at p, 11 of "The Birth of Malaysia":

"I would like to repeat and emphasise again, that Malaysia is a Nation formed of equal partners, Sarawak did not join; but Sarawak formed Malaysia together with Malaya, Sabah and Singapore.

"Malaysians are all equal under the Law and Constitution, irrespective of Race, Colour or Creed. There should not be distinction or discrimination. The rights of each component State are inviolable and inscribed in the IGC and London Agreements".

Much has changed since 1963. Sarawak and Sabah had become colonies of West Malaysia. There is no more equality despite the IGC and London Agreements. There is no more equality under the "1Malaysia" slogan.

Instead of being developed together, the infrastructures in Sabah and Sarawak are lagging behind West Malaysia by at least 20 years.

The federal BN has let down Sabah and Sarawak down. Instead of treating Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners, the Prime Minister has actually called Sabah and Sarawak the "fixed deposits" of the BN.

Until the "buy-election" on 16th May 2010, Sibu had been neglected by the BN. Little had changed since the last time that Sibu was represented by the DAP in 1986. For the past few years, there is little federal project in Sibu. There is little industrial development in Sibu. There is little job or employment opportunities in Sibu. The Sibu under the BN has not offered much hope.

I am taking this opportunity to speak for Sibu in particular and Sarawak in general.

In view of the IGC report and the Malaysian Agreement, and in view of the backwardness of Sabah and Sarawak, it is only fair that Sabahans and Sarawakians should ask the Federal Government for more attention to their needs under the New Economic Model (NEM) and the 10MP.

Sarawak is rich. It has the largest land mass in Malaysia and an abundance of resources such as timber, land, palm oil, gold, oil and gas.

But Sarawak is the 4th poorest state in Malaysia. The people suffer because of low pay, poor employment opportunities and a business environment which is monopolised by a selected few.

There are more than 300,000 young Sarawakians working in West Malaysia and Singapore because there are no jobs for them in their homeland.

There is not a single highway in Sarawak. Until today there are no roads to Kapit or Bario. Last year a famine nearly broke out in Bario because of a lack of roads. Most roads in Sarawak are not in good conditions, especially those in Sibu. For those who came to Sibu to campaign, you would have been greeted by the best road in Sibu from the Sibu Airport to the hotel. You "danced" all the way to your hotel.

The Prime Minister visited Sarawak only because the state election is near. He dropped by Sarawak in earnest only because of the Sibu by-election. He gave RM10 million to the Chinese primary schools and RM5 million to independent secondary schools a few days before the election. On the eve of the poll, he promised to give RM5 million to solve the flood problems in Rejang Park, Sibu, if the BN candidate win the election.

I must congratulate our PM for being the author of one of the most infamous speeches to emerge from the Sibu by-election. One mouse click away and this unflattering speech would be beamed worldwide. He made a deal with the Rejang Park voters, saying, "Can we have a deal? You help me, I help you".

The people in Rejang Park rightly rejected the BN and the carrot that was dangled in front of them.

I want to say this. When dangling the carrot in the face of the voters in Rajang Park on 15th May, 2010, the PM know very well that the sum of RM5 million is needed to develop Rajang Park and to raise the standard of living conditions there. It is needed to solve the flood problem there. The people of Rajang Park and of Sibu demand that the RM5 million should be given regardless of the outcome of the election.

Thank you!

* Wong Ho Leng , DAP Sarawak State Chairman & MP for Sibu