Speech by Dr. Hiew King Cheu on 10th Malaysia Plan on Wednesday, 16^th June 2010:

Speech on 10th Malaysia Plan

Thank you Datuk Speaker,

I would like to present my views on the proposed 10th Malaysia Plan.

The 10th Malaysia Plan has again given the Sabahan yet another big disappointment, which is worst than the 9th Malaysia Plan. The people in Sabah have high hope in the fore coming 10th plan and hoping Sabah will benefit more from this new plan.

The most disappointed aspect is that there is no effort put on the eradication of poverty, especially the hardcore poverty. The rural folks had not benefited from the 7, 8, and 9th plan and the poverty rates still stands at the figure of 23%. I wander how is the government going to achieve the zero poverty by the end of 2010? The rural poverty is wide spread, and by building them road and bridges, providing electricity and water supply will not help them out of poverty. The government should look at how to get them to be more productive by introducing more schemes to assist them.

The land grab in Sabah from the rural poor kampong folks by big companies in hundred thousand acres had caused anger among those living on their traditional land. This is a big scandal which further pushed these poor people to further suffering. The typical cases as reported in the newspaper are the recent cases in Pitas, Kota Marudu and in Lahad Datu, where these people living in the area of some 66,000 hectares are being forced out, and traditional land taken over by big companies. What is the logic behind this, and definitely this is not helping the poor folks, and what is the use to talk about Malaysia Plan? I know land matters are state problem, but looking at the whole situation, definitely this is affecting the livelihood of the people, and this makes it to become a federal matter.

The Sabah medical service is the worst in Malaysia. The general hospital in the City of Kota Kinabalu is an immediate problem. We can not wait until the completion of the 9th Plan then start to build during the 10th Plan. The location for the KK general hospital has been moving from places to places, and now it landed in a piece 50 acres of land in Bukit Padang as reported in the newspaper announced by the Assistance Health Minister. The funny part is that the Health minister doesn't know about this proposal. The twin tower block with 600 beds was reported to be built during the 10th Plan, but will this be built? The sick people will not be able to wait that long. The project should be carried out without further delay. All the hospital facilities must be upgraded and provided without delay, where is the promised improvement, we are still waiting? The simple car park problem is still unsolved until today, and doctors, nurses, visitors, and patients continue to receive summons every day.

The frequent flash floods in Kota Kinabalu are really something that we can not accept, and it is unbelievable that in year 2010 the city still can not solve the flood problem. The problem can be solved if there is enough fund provided by the federal government. The typical case is the Sg.Darau flood mitigation project in Menggatal town which is divided into many parts and phases of construction due to lack of funding, and we are still waiting for allocation for the flood prevention projects in the KK City. We are not asking for billion of ringgits to solve the floods in many areas in KK, but for such a long time since 4 decades ago, there were no solution to stop the flooding in the KK city. The KK people are getting very angry due to their properties damaged by flood water, and all the inconveniences caused. The flooding is not in KK alone, but in Kota Belud, Beaufort, and Kota Marudu are areas facing frequent flooding. There is not only property lost, financial lost, and the precious lives were lost. We need immediate plans to stop the flood, and this can not be allowed to continue. Our tourism industries are affected by the flood, especially for those who are travelling on roads which are flooded. We have received complaints on difficulties faced by our tourists on missing their flights and being blocked not able to get back to their hotel. The 10th Plan must put in extra attention on this issue and allocate much more money to Sabah to solve our flood problem.

The 10th Plan mentioned about adequate power and water supply to all the rural areas up to 99% by 2015 in Sabah. What is the use on mentioning 99% while today there are many pipelines without water, and power lines without electric power supply? The problem in Sabah without water and electricity still can not be solved, and we don't see that the government can solve this even in the 10th Plan. We have gone through so many Malaysia Plans and today what we see in Sabah is so disappointing and disheartening. In Kota Kinabalu, the capital city, some outskirt kampongs are still using untreated water from the hill. The Pulau Gaya island which is only a few miles from the mainland still have no water supply. In the East coast of Sabah, we are still having regular water and power cut, and in Sandakan there is salty water supply, good for your health. The situation of power and water will become worst, if there is no immediate plan now to address the problem. Up to date, we still don't see any new power station being built, but we do see some rented old second hand power generators screaming away with plenty black smoke to provide the power. On the other hand, why SESB still keep on insisting on building the publicly objected coal power plant which is not environmental friendly? The people's view must be respected.

The 10th Plan stated that there will be 2,540 KM of new roads to be built for the rural districts in Sabah, what about the existing kampong roads which are real bad and impassible by vehicles? These roads are only fit for "Lembu". The Minsters should go to have a look and to travel on these roads in order to see for themselves. There is also much upgrading and repair for the town roads in Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Kota Belud, Sandakan and Lahad Datu. Is there any plan and money for this maintenance work? We have been waiting for this from plan after plan. The road condition in Sabah is known to be very bad, and when can the government give fund to upgrade? We deserve the same standard of road in Sabah as enjoyed by Semananjong. Why Sabah is given a second class road? The Kalabakan/Sepalut road, the so call "high way" until today is still not sealed, do we have to wait until the 12th Plan? The fly-over in Tanjong Aru and the KKIA runway is delayed and delayed again on the completion, and when will these be finally completed? We can not wait for ever, if the contractor is no good, sack him and get someone else who can do the job?

On subsidies, this is a case where the government can not provide assistance to the people anymore. The government will go bankrupt by 2019 if subsidies continue. The poor padi farmers in Sabah depends greatly on government subsidies, if this is cut, how can they plant and produce rice for us. Some says the subsidies should be turned into higher price on the purchase of their padi, so that they can have better benefit. We all are entitled to enjoy government aids, now with the cutting of subsidies will definitely push many into deeper financial hardship, especially the hardcore poor.

There is a saying that, if we have less corruption in the country, we will enjoy more benefits and live a better life. The corrupt practice in Malaysia comes from the government and in its system. The ill practice must be removed and that is the mother of all evils. There is plenty of work for the MACC to catch the corrupted people, and don't just catch the small fish and let the big crocodiles go free.

The cut back on the expenditure of the Sabah Development Corridor indicated that there is not adequate fund to even start off the development corridor. Billions of ringgits had been announced and what do we see in Sabah? Where is the project that the government announced to benefit the people? We now only see our precious natural gas being sent to Bintulu and losing the Block L and M. All these development projects needed huge funding, if the government cannot find the money to continue to provide subsidies to the people, how can they find money for the SDC projects?

On the huge population jump and the many MYcards issued in Sabah, these caused a public concern. We have heard over and over again about foreigners obtaining Malaysian identity, this will cost the country dearly in the long run. We need legal foreign workers, but not go to the extent to legalize the illegal (PTI), and allegedly giving out MYcards. A proper system and guideline is needed to control this people by the authorities like the police, immigration and town councils. We have over a million such foreigners whether legal or illegal in Sabah, what is the government's plan to control them? The increase in their levies is not a good measure, and this will bring in more illegal workers.

The security in Sabah, especially on the sea, is getting more out of control now. In spite of the many assurances given by the police, the crime still happens here and there. The kidnapping of the two sea weed plantation supervisors near Semporna in Sabah is still not solved, while other incident happened in Kudat. Will there be anymore incident happening? The long coast line needs to be protected, and the life of the people are priceless, the government has to put in special effort to upgrade the strength and the facilities of the marine police, navy and other security forces in Sabah. At the moment, they are too few and under equipped to protect us in Sabah.

Over all, I see the 10th Plan has to be put under careful view to take into account of what is truly needed in Sabah, and don't forget that Sabah is a partner in Malaysia and not to be treated as one state only. We are always being forgotten, how many and how often the federal ministers visited Sabah in the past years? Have their ever care deeply about Sabah? We are not a 2nd class state, and we demand our rights to be recognized.

Thank you.

* Dr Hiew King Cheu, MP for Kota Kinabalu