DAP: No guarantee future CM won’s do what Yong did

KOTA KINABALU: Opposition DAP Member of Parliament Hiew King Cheu Monday questioned the logic behind then Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee signing away 400 acres of the KK waterfront to some private companies, resulting in them suing the State Government for a staggering RM1.7 billion in losses.

In this regard, he said, maybe the powers of the Sabah CM are too big and questioned what guarantee there is that a future CM would not resort to doing the same under a joint venture.

"The authority granted to the CM under the Chief Minister (Incorporation) Ordinance (Sabah Cap 23) to empower him to permit the government listed companies (GLC) making Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with private companies .had created much doubts, problems and defaults.

"The legal suit on the waterfront reflected much of its problems and demerits," he said, adding there may be many more pending and possible cases which would surface if not handled with due care and diligence by the Government and its GLCs.

"This time the Sabah Government may be lucky to get off the hook, but there is no guarantee that the next time it is simiarly lucky," he said, referring to the waterfront cases which the Arbitration Court ruled in the State Government's favour.

Hiew said the case sounded an alarm in the State administration and its procedure in handling state affairs and administrative procedures.

On the assurance by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman that the KK waterfront would be protected, Hiew asked what guarantee Musa could provide that a future CM would not repeat what happened in 1997.

"Will he be able to guarantee that there will not be any more KK waterfront projects to be approved? What happens when the next CM who comes into office, more new changes?

“We cannot afford more blunders and defaults in the Sabah Administration, no matter in the past or present under BN rude,” Hiew said citing the 116 acres of the Tanjong Aru Civil Servant Quarters land which was under a JVA and faced the same fate of having to end up in legal suit.

“This has caused a big piece of the prime state land to become an eyesore and a new forest formed in the beautiful Tg Aru beach area," he said.

Daily Express

Tuesday, 11 October, 2011

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