25 September 2023
Topik Pada Hari Ini:
> Baru Bian, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Bakelalan, Sarawak – Kepentingan Perbincangan Awam dalam Penentuan Projek Keutaman di Sarawak
> Fatira dari Muda Sarawak – Dilema Pembangunan Sarawak: Keutamaan Penanaman Padi atau Projek Mega?
> Romuald Siew, Presiden Tahabas – Jalan Tak Bertar dan Dana Tidak Terurus
On Today Show
> Baru Bian, Member of the Bakelalan State Legislative Assembly, Sarawak – The Importance of Public Debate in Sarawak's Project Prioritization
> Fatira of Muda Sarawak – Sarawak's Development Dilemma: Prioritizing Rice Cultivation or Grand Projects?
> Romuald Siew, President of Tahabas – Unpaved Roads and Misallocated Funds
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Special Randau
> Muda has urged the coalition government, especially Pakatan Harapan, to stick to its reform agenda to abolish the Sedition Act.
> Anwar Ibrahim is accused of using enforcement agencies to target political opponents. His latest target is Putrajaya MP Radzi Jidin, accused of corruption by Anwar in Parliament, leading to online allegations about corruption involving children's books and more.
Baru Bian, Member of the Bakelalan State Legislative Assembly, Sarawak
*The Importance of Public Debate in Sarawak's Project Prioritization*
The allocation of RM331 this year - to upgrade and maintain log roads to rural villages is a ridiculous act. Baru Bian thinks that. As long as this log road is still used for logging activities - it is the responsibility of the company involved to repair or maintain the road (the government cannot provide allocations). But the government can take over these wooden roads and upgrade them when they have been abandoned or are no longer used by the timber concession companies. According to Baru Bian, there is an allocation under MARRIS every year by the federal government to improve state roads. But it does not include log roads. If MARRIS allocations are used to upgrade log roads, it is a wrong move.
According to Baru Bian, the Sarawak state assembly meets twice a year. But if there are emergency matters, then the Speaker can call a special conference. The frequency of meetings for now, is still reasonable - according to Baru Bian. But what is more important for Baru Bian is filling the conference time. Each proposed project must go through a debate first in the DUN. And projects of people's needs should be a priority. Just gave an example of the RM5 billion ART project. It should be RM5 billion to build a road to the interior which is more urgent. Not ART RM5 billion. But the Premier of Sarawak Sarawak often prioritizes projects that are the favorite of the government. Baru Bian thinks that the Sarawak Government is able to provide initial allocations to prepare large-scale agricultural areas (Rice Plantation) without having to wait for a budget from the central government. Sarawak's state budget last year was more than 11 billion ringgit and is expected to continue to increase this year. Baru Bian criticized the Sarawak Premier who expected the federal government to provide RM1 billion to build drainage and water lines for the rice planting project in Banting-Sri Aman. While the RM5 billion ART project, the Premier does not need to wait for the budget from the federal government.
Fatira of Muda Sarawak
*Sarawak's Development Dilemma: Prioritizing Rice Cultivation or Grand Projects?*
“Developing an area for large-scale rice cultivation requires significant costs," said Sarawak's Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. He provided the example of the Banting area in Sri Aman, where approximately RM1 billion is needed to establish basic infrastructure for rice cultivation.
Fatira Muda Sarawak commented on Abang Johari's statement, expressing interest in the priority given to commodities like rice cultivation but raising questions about the government's overall development strategy. They noted that the government has invested in projects like the Automated Rapid Transit (ART), the construction of the tallest pole, and even a casino, all of which come with substantial costs.
Fatira Muda Sarawak suggested that the focus should be on rice planting despite the perceived high costs associated with irrigation systems. They believed that there must be innovative ways to address these challenges. Furthermore, they proposed expanding on previous projects that have already been implemented successfully. Additionally, they mentioned the possibility of supporting traditional hill padi farming, which doesn't require irrigation and could benefit local farmers.
In essence, Fatira Muda Sarawak advocated for a more balanced and strategic approach to development, with a greater emphasis on practical, cost-effective solutions to benefit the people and the state.
Romuald Siew, President of Tahabas
*Unpaved Roads and Misallocated Funds*
Romuald Siew often commutes to his farm using the federal road. However, he's encountered a persistent issue with the 20-kilometer Suai Road, which remains unpaved and lacks a proper tarred surface. Romuald Siew's concern stems from the belief that the federal government has allocated a substantial sum of RM300 million to enhance road infrastructure in Sarawak.
Despite this allocation, he raises important questions about the budget's utilization. Specifically, he questions whether the Sarawak state government is effectively managing these funds for their intended purpose, focusing on improving essential infrastructure like the Suai Road, or if there is a risk of resources being diverted towards projects with less meaningful impact or even wasteful endeavors.
Romuald Siew's concerns highlight the importance of transparency and accountability in government spending, especially in the context of critical infrastructure development.