S’wak PAC to visit dev project sites, check utilisation of public funds
Razaili (seated centre) and members of the PAC in a group photo.
KUCHING (June 22): The Sarawak Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will try to visit at least one development project site this year to check how public funds were utilised, said its chairman Razaili Gapor.
He explained that this proposal was discussed during the two-day 54th PAC Meeting which was held since yesterday (June 21) at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Building.
“One of those ongoing projects that we plan to visit is the Bario Rice Industry Development Project,” he said in a statement.
Razaili, who is Beting Maro assemblyman, is the new Sarawak PAC chairman, having taken over effective February this year from Sadong Jaya assemblyman Aidel Lariwoo who is now Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development I.
Other members of the PAC are Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang, Kabong assemblyman Mohd Chee Kadir, Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How, Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong, Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh and Meluan assemblyman Rolland Duat.
Razaili in the statement congratulated them on their appointments as members of the PAC.
It was also announced the PAC new secretary is Pele Peter Tinggom, who is also DUN Secretary.
“The PAC members were also reminded of the importance of their responsibility to ensure public money is spent prudently and achieving the objectives set for expenditures or projects that have been approved by the state and federal governments,” he added.
PADAWAN: Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) Chairman Lo Khere Chiang said facilities in tourist areas here should be improved to provide more comfortable access to visitors.
“Coming into the Kampung Git area, the road is very narrow,” he said, adding, “I hope that the access to Kampung Annah Rais, Temurang, Danu and other villages could be improved as well.”
He hoped Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah will consider allocating funds to improve these tourism locations.
Lo, who is also Batu Kitang assemblyman made this remark at the closing of the Padawan Raft Safari 2022 at Dewan Serbaguna Kampung Git, today.
He noted that there were limited parking spaces and hoped to get allocations to improve the parking areas and also widen the road within the Kampung Git area.
Lo also hoped to have a viewing platform built so that visitors could come and enjoy the programme, considering the rafting and kayaking event is held annually and expected to bring in more visitors.
This year marked its 18th edition and saw the participation of about 83 raft teams and 17 kayak teams after a two-year pause.
KUCHING: Local authorities here appear to have different views on the decision to fully enforce the ban on the use of plastic straws and polystyrene at markets and hawker centres effective July 1.
The Kuching Kuching South City Council (MBKS) has warned that hawker centres under its jurisdiction still found serving drinks using plastic straws after the deadline will have their licences to be revoked after the fourth offence.
Peter Minos
The news evoked different response from Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Lo Khere Chiang and Kota Samarahan City Council (MPKS) chairman Datuk Peter Minos.
Will both these councils emulate MBKS? New Sarawak Tribune interviewed both chairmen this week for their views.
Minos said he never liked the idea of eateries and hawker stalls using plastic straws in Kota Samarahan.
“Actually, I don’t like people using plastic of any kind, including plastic straws because plastic is not good for the environment.
“So it is a matter of time MPKS will emulate MBKS. The Kuching city council is doing it right, a good move and wise of them to impose the ban,” he said.
Lo Khere Chiang
Lo, on the other hand – while stressing that MPP discouraged the use of plastics and polystyrene off all sorts, and encouraged citizens to recycle plastic bags – said his council would not enforce a total ban on plastic straws.
“We are not enforcing a total ban on plastic straws, however, if that’s the direction of our relevant ministry for all the 23 councils throughout Sarawak, then yes, all of us will have to follow suit,” he said.
Minos also thought that it was good if plastic straws were banned and not used by hawker stalls or any eateries, saying when the relevant ministries fully implemented the anti-plastic policy, MPKS would follow the rules.
“That can be done easily, it is only a question of when to enforce the rules and the fine quantum on those transgressing,” he said.
He, however, said that it was up to the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government to impose the anti-plastic straw policy and direct all local councils to enforce it.
Lo explained the practicality of the ban had to be considered, considering that Sarawak was vast and those in the interior couldn’t be expected to use non-plastic straws.
“Padawan Municipal Council takes care of the rural and city areas, and we can’t impose the ban across the board.
“However, through education, I am beginning to see non-plastic straws being used in a number of coffee shops in not just areas under MPP but also major towns and cities throughout Sarawak,” he added.
Asked if MPKS would be much stricter in its enforcement, Minos said “we would sit down with our corporate social responsibility (CSR) team and the staff and. Discuss how to go about with enforcing the ban”.
“After that, we will refer to the ministry, and if everything goes well, we will then spring into action,” he said.
Lo, meanwhile, was concerned whether the people were ready for the ban across the board.
“If and when the community is ready, all the councils throughout Sarawak can just impose the ban. There is no necessity to differentiate between who should and who shouldn’t enforce the ban.
“We are all Sarawakians, and are equally intelligent enough to know that the improper disposal of plastic items is detrimental to our environment and mother nature as a whole,” said Lo.
Lo (third right), Yap (fourth left), Flinken Group marketing manager Hannah Chong (centre) pose with the temple rebuilding committee chairman Thian Ted Hin (third left) and his committee members.
KUCHING (June 9): Members of the public and well-wishers are urged to donate generously towards the renovation cost of the Sam Shan Kuet Bong Temple in Kota Sentosa.
Batu Kitang and Kota Sentosa assemblymen Lo Khere Chiang and Wilfred Yap Yau Sin are teaming up to solicit funds to renovate the temple, which is more than 100 years old and the last time it was renovated was more than 20 years ago.
“The renovation works will cost more than RM500,000 and we have approached Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) to come up with RM200,000 while Flinken Group Sdn Bhd has also come forward to donate 150 bags of tile adhesives costing about RM5,000.
“Yap has also contributed RM10,000 from his MRP grant for the project,” Lo told reporters yesterday.
Lo, also Padawan Municipal Council chairman, said the temple roof was leaking and the tiles cracked.
“The tiles are expensive; the smaller ones RM30 a piece and the bigger ones RM50 a piece.
“This temple is one of tourist attractions in Kuching and is strategically located in Kota Sentosa,” added Lo.
