Sensitive issues barred in Sarawak assembly

The bulk of Meradong assemblywoman Ting Tze Fui’s speech in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly yesterday was ordered to be expunged by Deputy Speaker Roland Sagah.

KUCHING: Opposition elected representatives received a ‘warning’ from the state legislative assembly deputy speaker Roland Sagah not to raise issues related to “corruption, nepotism and allegations of impropriety” and the native customary rights (NCR) matters.

Sagah’s “warning” yesterday came in the form of expunging from the Hansard segments of Meradong assemblywoman Ting Tze Fui’s debate on the Yang Dipertua Negeri’s address.

Ting had during her debate touched on the recently concluded general election, alleged corruption linked to Chief Minister Taib Mahmud and his family as well as NCR matters.

Touching on the GE13 which she said: “No doubt BN has won the battle in terms of the number of parliamentary seats, but Pakatan Rakyat has won the war in terms of the total percentage of votes cast, that is 51.4% as against BN with 48.6%.

“If only our nation has genuinely and democratically implemented the principle of one vote-one value or the proportional representation electoral system, Pakatan would have won the power in Putrajaya.

She suggested that the current overtly and unjust electoral system, both at the federal and state levels, be overhauled so as to reflect the ‘one vote-one value’ principal.

‘You cannot raise these issues’

At this point, Sagah who chaired the assembly meeting, stopped her, saying that the “general election was a federal matter.”

He told the Dewan secretary to expunge part of Ting’s speech from the Hanzard.

Ting was asked to move to next topic. Her next issue was corruption.

She alleged that not only has both tiers (federal and state) of governments espoused cronyism and encouraged nepotism, they had also systematically embraced biased policies.

“The most cancerous disease must be the widespread corrupt practices within and without the government.

“When you have a most powerful state’s chief minister whose family business dealings are being called into questions, trying to brush aside MACC as irrelevant and treating MACC with utter contempt, how (then) could (can) such a national watchdog or independent agency function appropriately?” she asked.

Ting went on to state that it was vital that the chief minister’s office clear its good name.

“The chief minister should without any hesitation, invite MACC to assist to clear irrefutably and exonerate himself from any doubts, insinuations and aspersions over the family business dealings once and for all.

“The way things (are being ) handled is giving people the impression that things are being hushed up and kept under the hat. Consequently, the clouds of doubts, innuendos are wrapped in a shroud of mystery and disbelief,” she said alluding to the ‘disclosures’ in the Global Witness video.

Again at this point, Sagah stopped her and asked the secretary to expunge that part of the speech.

Said Sagah to Ting: “You cannot raise these issues of corruption, nepotism and allegations of impropriety in this Dewan. You can lodge a police report.

“I want that part on the chief minister be expunged (from the Hanzard).”

‘Why so protective of CM?’

Another ‘sensitive’ issue that Sagah did not want Ting to speak on was the native customary rights (NCR) land matter.

She began by saying that Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) had the unprecedented power and influence not only in the state government but also at the federal level.

“According to the BN’s election manifesto, all native customary land would be properly and legally gazetted in close consultation with state governments.

“Now that the BN has been returned to power and that Sarawak has the most NCR land in terms of size, areas and acreage in the whole country, is this state government going to take immediate steps to survey and gazette all NCR land in Sarawak and to issue them with individual issue documents of title?

“Is the state government going to return the former NCR land which was illegitimately grabbed by crony companies to the original NCR land claimants?

“Is the government going to support the immediate establishment of a special court to deal specifically with NCR issues?” Ting asked.

Sagah again told her not to touch on allegations of land grab on NCR land and wanted that part of her speech also be expunged.

“You are making allegations,” Sagah said to which an angry Ting retorted: “Most of my speech has been taken away and expunged under your ruling.

“What can we speak in this house? I am raising concerns of the people I represent. This house is the best forum for all YBs to raise issues and to make comments.

“Why are you so protective of the chief minister, your political master?”

“It is a shame that the people’s voice in this house is being suppressed.”

‘You have abused your power’

Irked by the Speaker’s decision, Kota Sentosa assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen stood up and accused the Speaker of abusing his power.

“I think Mr Speaker you have abused your power to expunge records of these proceedings. Whether you agreed or disagreed with YB Meradong, it must be recorded. These are records of history.

“You have abused you power. Your ruling is that the general election is a federal matter so are education, hospital, the police, security.

“Why cannot we raise all these issues in this Dewan?” Chong asked.