Tampering with the Hansard to protect Taib?

By Joseph Tawie

KUCING: The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly has been accused of protecting Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud and his family members by deleting all questions and statements pertaining to their “abuse” and business interests from the sacred Hansard.

Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong said all statements made during the State Legislative Assembly sitting pertaining to the “first” family's wealth and share possessions had been deleted.

“The paragraph of my speech on Mornada Sdn Bhd where I listed the names of the sons and daughters of the chief minister with their respective shares has been deleted from the Hansard.

"Also deleted was my statement that the government had alienated 269 acres of prime state land at BDC Stampin to Monarda, with Taib’s family members listed as shareholders.

"The value of the land is between RM500 million and RM600 million, but Monarda paid only RM70 million.

“This is an issue of interest to the public, but why did the state assembly exclude it from the Hansard?” she asked.

Yong said the deletions were obvious indications that "the assembly is protecting the business interests of the chief minister and his family members”.

"My speech on the loss from investment in 1st Silicon Sarawak, the Bakun Dam issue, the US$1.20 million annual salary of Sesco chief executive officer and the 10 return trips to and from Norway has also been excluded from the Hansard,” she added.

Unethical and unparliamentary

Yong said that 1st Silicon Sarawak was reported to have lost several billions of ringgit due to poor investment and management.

She said other statements which had been wiped out included her speech on the salary of the Kuching mayor and the number of cars the later had bought since taking office.

“Why is the assembly tampering with the records of the Hansard? It is unethical and against the practice of parliamentary democracy,” she said.

Yong, who is state DAP treasurer, said that the assembly’s action was tantamount to depriving the future generation of the true history of their forefathers.

“This morning, I have faxed my letter of protest to the assembly and asked it to make good the records. I also informed them which parts were deleted.

“In my letter, I also reminded the assembly that it is very unparliamentary not to record my speech in verbatim,” she said.

A copy of the letter was also sent to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) in London, of which Sarawak is a member.

Yong said that if the assembly did not make good the records, she would raise the matter with the CPA.

“Let the assembly explain to the CPA,” she said, adding that it would be embarrassing to the assembly if it had to give explanation.