6. 999 YR OR PERPETUITY LEASES FOR SARAWAKIANS.

6 999 Yr or Perpetuity Leases for Sarawakians

That was our election slogan in the 2006 state elections. Return Land to the Rakyat, is what Parti KeADILan Rakyat will implement as its first objective upon assuming the reins of government for Sarawak! Yes I say Sarawak! We are now preparing to go all out to capture Sarawak, so that it will no longer be left out in the mainstream of development!

Until March 2008, Parti KeADILan Rakyat is the only party on both sides to champion perpetuity or 999 yr land titles, esp for all residential titles, in addition to automatic land lease renewal. All other political parties, it may be recalled were campaigning on 90 or 99 year land leases, with or without paying lease renewal premiums.

It stands today, not as a fantasy, but as a non-negotiable position of the people of Sarawak, who have witnessed the implementation of such a land policy in Perak in just three weeks after Pakatan Rakyat formed government in Perak.

It stands today as the only just and permanent solution to land lease problems in Sarawak.

The land policy as advocated by Parti KeADILan Rakyat will relieve people affected from overwhelming financial hardship, and stimulate the property and related sectors of the economy, thus increasing government receipts from stamp duty, assessment and other taxes.

As for the NCR lands, it is our policy that upon our assuming government, we would order the immediate surveys for all NCR lands and to settle them, and issue native titles in perpetuity to the rightful owners. This is something that has long been denied them by the BN government. With the titles they would be liberated to use their land properly, go to the banks to apply for loans, or enter into genuine joint ventures with plantation companies to plant oil palm or other crops. Its only in such ways that Sarawakians may once again become the real owners in their own lands.

The people of Sarawak are now ready for a regime change in Sarawak.

Many Sarawakians have approached me, almost on a daily basis since 8 Mar 08, to ask for forms to join PKR! Thousands have been joining us and are actively helping us form our Divisions through out Sarawak. We expect that no less than 10,000 Sarawakians will join us by the end of the year. In KL we are receiving some 5,000 to 10,000 new members every month!

Sarawakians are convinced now, especially after 8 Mar 08, that only a Pakatan Rakyat or PKR led government will deliver an early and just solution to all their problems

Allow me now to repeat what I have said before in my maiden speech to this August House 2 years ago,

IN POLITICS NOTHING IS POSSIBLE, &

POLITICS IS THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE

And this is a new phrase

We in PKR will be friendly to all who wants to be friends with us, but do not fault us if we are less than friendly to those who continue to treat us like the enemy.

Its time for change in Sarawak. Hidup KeADILan Rakyat!!!

Selamat Gawai to all our Dayak friends. Gaya guru gerai nyamai. Agi idup agi ngelaban!

5. A NEW DAWN IN BUMI KENYALANG - A CROSSING OF THE RUBICON.

5 A NEW DAWN IN BUMI-KENYALANG - A CROSSING OF THE RUBICON

In a way I am aware of the fact what I am about to perform is a step that is as significant and symbolic as a crossing of the Rubicon, as was done by Julius Caesar in 49 BC. This is but a political crossing thereof, perhaps of the Sarawak River, albeit with just a humble army of 1, but with the full knowledge and confidence that legions of Sarawakians are forming behind me!

Mr. Speaker, my heart cannot be more joyous, my mood more elated than today. Making my 5^th speech since 2006, I share with the people of Malaysia and Sarawak in witnessing the momentous turning point in the history of this beloved land of ours!

After the long decades of darkness, our countrymen, women and children now revels in the clearest of blue sky which has been brought about by Parti KeADILan Rakyat, and Pakatan Rakyat, which is but a new kid on the political block.

Need I recapitulate the facts and events of this glorious Malaysian Spring which occurred on 8 Mar 2008, which is a celebration of god-blessed Malaysian Peoples’ Power!

Even some of you on the other side would marvel at the scale of the victory of the combined political and civil forces for democracy, human rights, equality, social justice and good governance. The peoples’ victory over the forces of evil. corruption and nepotism, racism and oppression has culminated in the emergence of a new political force, the Pakatan Rakyat, on the centre stage of Malaysian national life.

8 Mar 08 testifies to the stature and wisdom of the one man who wrote “The Asian Renaissance” in the mid-1990s. And 15 Apr 08 marks the legal return of that man, DS Anwar Ibrahim to public life, who is now our Ketua Umum, and is also now the undisputed Malaysian Prime Minister-in-waiting. Malaysians of all races are overjoyed, and I count myself as the fortunate few from Sarawak to witness the fervour of over 20,000 Malaysians of all races who gathered on that historic night the 14 of April 2008, to welcome his return. That was in a way, his crossing of the Rubicon towards an ‘eventual conquest’ of the Malaysian Parliament.

Believe me not, he was even given a rousing welcome by some UMNO friends when he attended the opening of Parliament on April 28^th! Baffled if you need be, at how the world regards DS Anwar, who is now our Prime Minister in waiting.

Time magazine has picked Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for 2008. The citation for his nomination reads: “His future role can be determined only by Malaysians. One can hope that they will embrace his brand of tolerance, valuing dialogue across political differences, and that this courageous leader will continue to play a leading role on the world stage."

The world largest Muslim website: Islamonline.net celebrates Anwar's inclusion in the list along 10 other Muslims, as thus:
"Malaysia's former deputy prime minister and current opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim led the Muslim figures, ranking ninth coming in the world's most influential leaders."

Far away in UK, the Economist reports on May 2nd “AS MALAYSIA'S new parliament opened this week, a mood of change was in the air not felt since the country's independence from Britain in 1957. The governing coalition, led since then by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), is panicking----A change of government in Malaysia—a fanciful notion until recently—now seems a real possibility.”

Peoples’ Power have thus, through the stature of Anwar Ibrahim, put our country on the world stage for noble reasons.

If Malaysian people, and the world at large, are able to see the good and the inevitable, we must now ask ourselves “How long should we continue to pretend not to see the a New Dawn that has begun in Malaysia, and also in Sarawak?”

The multi-ethnic, multicultural spirit championed by Parti KeADILan Rakyat has now found expression and substance through numerous peoples-centred actions of the young Pakatan Rakyat state governments. The over-riding principle of Ketuanan Rakyat as distinct from Ketuanan Malayu, as freshly enunciated by no less than DS Anwar Ibrahim, has by the day, captured the imagination of even the skeptics among the rakyat.

As the leader of Parti KeADILan Rakyat, DS Anwar has pledged to raise the oil and gas revenue for Sarawak from 5 to 20%. Yes to 20%. When the BN in Sarawak has been unable to raise the paltry 5% to a miserable 10% despite many so called appeals, over several decades. In one fell swoop, PKR has promised an increase to 20%, quadrupling that of the original and double of what the BN in Sarawak would dare to imagine. Are we morally correct as leaders entrusted by the people to act on their best interest, to deny Sarawak of this unprecedented benefit. Are we not always very pragmatic about funds for the development of Sarawak?

PKR, esp via its Tambunan Declaration, has also pledged of a post a 2^nd Deputy Prime Minister for East Malaysia. And I and Doctor Jeffrey Kitingan, the PKR Vice President and leader in charge of Sabah and Sarawak, have come to the agreement that the post should be rotated between Sabah and Sarawak. Imagine that, a Deputy PM eventually coming from Sarawak! Shall we now deny a Sarawakian the long-overdue right to hold the post of a second Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia? We therefore need not shout about getting an additional paltry post of the Deputy Speaker of Dewan Rakyat. That said, it is my pleasure to heartily congratulate YB Datuk Wan Junaidi b. Tuanku Jaafar, who is a personal friend of mine, for his appointment to the post, as he truly deserves it.

I am thus not encouraging anyone to be an opportunistic party-hopper, for vested personal interests. I am appealing to a higher moral imperative, in the interest of Sarawak, Malaysia and her people whom we are elected to serve. Any BN YB crossing to join Pakatan Rakyat, is told in no uncertain terms that there is no personal benefit to be gained, no government position to be reserved.

You will be crossing as a matter of public-spirited conscience in the interest of the people, State and Nation. You will be hailed by the Rakyat, the final arbiter of history, as wise leaders setting Sarawak and Malaysia on the course of wholesome development and revival in all spheres.

I wish to humbly and most solemnly recommend to the BN State DUN members and Sarawak BN MPs, to join the ranks of Pakatan Rakyat to fulfill the phenomenal expectations of the Rakyat after 8 Mar 08.

This is the crucial moment for you to help the people of Sarawak realize the full meaning and dimensions of Merdeka in Malaysia, after decades of hardship and unjust subservience. You shall raise Sarawak to centre stage in our nation; to a respected position in the Asean Region and even beyond!

I shall now whisper in my softest but clearest voice in this August House, yes we ie the Pakatan Rakyat, have the numbers to take over the Federal Government, and there is a very great possibility in due course of the First Female PM of Malaysia! How fitting, as the Malaysian political tsunami had occurred on 8 Mar, which is International Women’s Day. When is this great deed or event going to take place? Its very, very soon and it will not be one moment sooner!

And how many MPs from East Malaysia are going to cross over to join us? I am only at liberty to reveal that there are over 10 from Sabah. From Sarawak, yes there are, but I am not at liberty to reveal even the number!

Besides the increase in Oil Royalty to 20% and the post of a 2^nd Deputy PM for East Malaysia, we in Sarawak promises to overhaul the Land Policy of the BN government by Returning Land to the People of Sarawak!

4. RESTORATION OF THE GAMBIER STREET MARKET.

4- RESTORATION OF THE GAMBIER STREET MARKET

I would like to propose to this August House to consider preserving the historical heritage of the Gambier St. Hawkers Market, and this could be made fully compatible with the Kuching riverfront extension project, by replacing it with a modern multi-storey new market, fitted with sufficient car parks and which would benefit incumbent hawkers, greatly revive the area and nearby businesses, benefit consumers and become an added attraction for foreign tourists. The modern Sibu Central Market is a model of a successful market in the Central Business District of Sibu.

Let me convey to this August House the unanimous and resolute opposition of the hawkers against their proposed relocation to Tabuan Laru. I can therefore confirm what the member for Kota Sentosa has told this August House only yesterday. There is therefore great doubt on the so called 290 hawkers who allegedly supported the move, as claimed by the Asst Minister yesterday. The hawkers also fully support my proposal to rebuild and restore the Gambier St. Market and to let them continue trading at the same market once ready for use. They have voiced their real concerns repeatedly to me, including loss of customers as many clients come from across river, wasted lifetime effort in building existing business goodwill, the distance they have to travel to the proposed new site at Tabuan Laru and the unknown rentals at the Tabuan Laru market which reportedly may be privatized. While the Hon Asst Minister has assured that the rentals would not be increased, we would like to know for how long. The concern of the hawkers is that the rentals would be increased soon and to exorbitant rates, thus eventually forcing them out of their livelihoods.

Apart from the hawkers’ refusal to be relocated, it has to be recognized that Gambier Street reflects the multicultural vibrancy of Kuching and Sarawak.

The diversity and cultural intermingling is something we should be celebrating and proud to show to our ever eager foreign tourists. Our Sarawak markets have their own uniqueness and exotic cultural flavour, just as those famed old markets in foreign cities, such as the buzzling Victoria Market in Melbourne CBD or Fremantle Market in West Australia, which I believe the Minister of Tourism and others would be familiar with.

Several historic buildings at the site deserve to be preserved, namely the Godown built in 1929, the vegetable market façade of 1935 and the old information office building.

As a retail business centre and a sampan ride from across-river, this place is intimately woven into the life of our own charming local people especially the kampong folks. Let us not take this wonderful aspect of their daily living from them. I therefore call for a serious rethink of the plans of the government for the area.

I have several issues which are equally important but which due to time I may have to raise later. Among them are that on that of crime and the recent spate of armed robberies in and around Kuching and elsewhere, which luckily has been covered very well by several YBs on both sides of the this August House. I only hope that the police will continue to increase their patrols and efforts to rid us of the armed gangs that are terrorizing us. In my area some houses have started to not only put barb wires on the tops of their fences but also to put up electric wires! Making them look like a war zone. Or some place in Iraq rather than in Sarawak.

Another area which I will not cover now due to time factor is that of my Motion on Funds for Chinese and Missionary schools, but I hope one day to get a good reply from the Honorable Minister from Bawan Assan on why he and his party has not risen to the occasion of supporting my Motion. I hope they will not wait till they are no longer in power!

I will also leave for a future time what I have called the “3 Wise Monkeys” of this August House!

I will also not for now venture into another area which I have already written up, which is that of the Legacy of our current CM, where I contemplate a post Taib era. WHICH IS COMING SOON!

3. THE PLAZA MERDEKA PROJECT: DISMAY, TRAFFIC CHAOS IN THE CITY CENTRE.

3- THE PLAZA MERDEKA PROJECT : DISMAY, TRAFFIC CHAOS IN THE CITY CENTRE

It is of great regret that the ongoing Plaza Merdeka Project has resulted in chaos and traffic jams around and beyond the project vicinity, as well as a marked downturn of business experienced by small businesses in the area. By the area I mean India Street, Gambier Rd, Court House Rd and Electra House and all the streets in between, and even to some extent, Carpenter Street and Main Bazaar.

Shop rentals are relatively high in the area affected; it is unjust to subject businessmen in the area to hugh and crippling financial pressure for some 3 years to come.

The closure of Barrack and the Courthouse Roads and some absurd lane and traffic direction in the Khoo Hung Yeang St. / Electra House area has added to the confusion. Key outgoing routes are inexplicably closed, adding to the massive jam and mess. Even the far away Reservior Rd from the Tabuan Rd junction has been reversed in direction! Drivers and shopkeepers in the area are daily cursing the traffic and the project. The authorities have given the project developers too much latitude at the expense of the public and small business. It is as if all of the shopkeepers and people living in the area can go to hell for all the authorities care, but this project must be allowed to go ahead.

Before this project was given the go ahead, there was another project which had been approved, and was nearly completed. However due to some alleged encroachment of a feet or so into the foot path by the building, the project had been shelved by the powers that be. However this time this current project encroaches so far into the road as to shut up the entire road and yet it is allowed to proceed! The double standard is appalling. How can the relevant authorities approve such a closure of a public road which has inconvenienced and affected the livelihood of thousands, for the sake of a private project?

Is there a Black Hand behind all of these inexplicable developments and redirections? Is there a plot to make the area less attractive and cause the shopkeepers affected to give up and be forced to go away in frustration, like what has happened to the nearby Kuching Plaza? Already I hear of rumours that the Open Air Market will be or has been taken away too and its only a matter of time that even that landmark will be history, literarily? Allow me therefore to ask and request the Minister concerned to ensure and reassure us that all these rumours are baseless and that there is no design to frustrate and “chase” and otherwise remove the shopkeepers and small traders away from the area, which is the oldest and most valuable part of Kuching City?

On behalf of the people of Padungan, I wish to call for

1. An immediate re-opening of the Courthouse and Barrack Roads;

2. A comprehensive Review of the project scope and design

3. an immediate restoration of the original traffic lanes and directions;

4. A continuation of the dialogue between local small business, the authorities and project developers;

5. Just compensation to small business affected to cover loss of earnings.

2. THE CHRONIC CONGESTION IN THE SGH.

2- THE CHRONIC CONGESTION IN THE SGH

The night before I had an urgent call from an old comrade whose father had landed up in the SGH. It turned out that his old wheel chair bound father was unable to get into the SGH! They had been waiting for some 3 hours to be attended to, but even after some attention they still are not able to get their father the required medical treatment, which require regular injections and hospitalization. Why? Because the SGH is short of beds!

I have over the years repeatedly made calls for the State and Federal governments to make long-term plans to deal with the acute problem of insufficient beds in the Kuching Metropolitan area. When the then Federal Health Minister, Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek, visited Kuching in Sept. 2007, I had personally handed over related memoranda to the Minister. Apart from the use of Sarawak International Medical Centre (SIMC) as a public hospital, other proposals made were ones made since early 2006, for the planning of 3 new general hospitals and 3 new polyclinics in and around Kuching including Petra Jaya, Batu Kawah and Padawan. To meet expected needs from rapid population growth in and around Kuching, the new general hospitals and polyclinics should be built in the next 5-12 years!

After another visit to the SGH and meeting with the Hospital Director Dr. Raja Lope Ahmad I had just in April 18^th 2008 in a press statement called on both the State and Federal Governments to coordinate in planning for short and long term solutions to the patient overcrowding and car parking shortage at Sarawak General Hospital.

I hope that the second phase renovation works at SGH could be expedited so that the patients cramped in the existing wards could be more comfortably accommodated in the more spacious block now under renovation.

I have been told that the SGH has 800 official and unofficial beds. This number well exceeds hospital planning norms in western countries, and excessive hospital bed size results in the loss of a more congenial atmosphere needed by patients and staff, among other drawbacks.

The car parking shortage is the result of the 3000 strong staff, thus numbering up to 1000 in a shift, hundreds of outpatients, and relatives and visitors of 700-800 inpatients competing for the 600 parking lots made available. According to the SGH Director, a five-storey storey car park has been approved on one part of the current car park lots. As tender and work will only begin when funds are allocated under the mid-term review of the 9MP, I would like to repeat my call here on the authorities to expedite the building of the car park.

However, the fastest way to solve the hospital bed problem is to make use of the 200-300 beds at the soon-to-be completed RM350 million Sarawak International Medical Centre at Kota Samarahan for use by the Ministry of Health for the general public, especially the lower income groups who cannot afford private sector medical care. This will most directly benefit not only the residents of Kuching but also the residents of Kota Samarahan, Sentosa, BDC, Tabuan, Pending, Padawan and beyond. I therefore urge the state government to seriously consider this request

1. FLOODING AND THE SG PADUNGAN DRAINAGE SYSTEM PROJECT.

Speech by Dominique Ng, Member for Padungan, on May 08

On Motion of Appreciation for the TYT’s Address

Dato Sri Speaker,

Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to participate in the Motion of Appreciation for the TYT’s Address at the beginning of this Sitting

I am sure that all of you must be quite intrigued by what is happening in the political situation in West Malaysia and to some extent to us here in Sabah and Sarawak! Which is the possibility of the Pakatan Rakyat taking over the Federal Government. Lend me your ears and I will tell you some exciting news!

However, allow me first of all to address a few pressing constituency problems.

1- FLOODING AND THE SG PADUNGAN DRAINAGE SYSTEM PROJECT

I have raised this in my last year’s May Speech to this August House.

The said project was meant to alleviate the flood prone areas in and around the Padungan constituency, namely

Chawan Road (around Chong Hua Primary School No 5), Ellis Road, Jln Mendu, Tan Sri William Tan Road, Kampong Simpang Tiga, Jln Lumba Kuda, Central Road and etc

Every year for the past few decades or so they have been suffering annual floodings which would come upon an hour or so of sustained rain. And this is a situation which is well known to the government.

On 12 April 2006, just before the last state elections, the DID had announced that the tenders had already been called and would close on 17 April 2006, and the project would commence on June 2006 and will finish on October 2007. The whole project would cost RM20 million.

On 31 July 2006 in this very August House, the Hon Minister from Bawang Assan, had in his Ministerial Reply confirmed the existence of such a project This is what he said:

“…DID has studied and proposed to upgrade Sungai Padungan to mitigate the flooding problem in the Sg Padungan catchment which includes areas around SRB Chung Hua No 5, Jln Ellis and Jln Sekama etc. This proposal costing RM20 million has been included under the 9^th Malaysia Plan proposal which has been submitted to the Federal Government.” (pg 89 of unedited Hansard)

The question is, why has the BN government turned around to say that a project which they promised would start in June 2006 and to complete on October 2007 is apparently still in the proposal stage? What has happened to the money and the tenders that had been called?

This DUN session after I had to run the wrath of the Speaker and was named twice in 2 minutes by him, the good Minister had then told this August House that it is now part of the Kuching Flood Mitigation Project!

First of all, what is the time frame now? When in the past it had a definite time table of completion of October 2007, when will be the time that this Project will be completed?

Secondly this is quite mystifying. The Sg Padungan flood prone area is located well below the diversion envisaged in the Sarawak River which is much further upstream. How is the new project going to help alleviate flood waters around the Ellis Rd, Chawan Rd area which are further downstream? Can the long suffering people of Padungan be assured that when this project is finally completed, it will finally solve the perennial flood problems they have been facing/

I would therefore like to seek a further explanation from the Minister For Urban Development please!

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