KUCHING: As Sarawakians struggle on a daily basis with poor infrastructure, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government is having a field day rolling out a new line of cars possibly by next year, remarked Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang (pic).
“We in Sarawak do not need a third national car plant which is said to be financed by the PH government despite their many denials.
“Sarawak contributes RM250 million worth of oil per day to the federal government and this is how they spend it,” said Lo in a statement yesterday.
He said that the first car plant, also started by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had cost the country billions of ringgit.
“Recently, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said that there is no truth to Putrajaya’s claim that the new national car project would not involve public funds.
“The federal government is, in fact, the largest shareholder in DreamEDGE Sdn Bhd, the company driving the national car project,” Lo pointed out.
He added that Wee had zeroed in on Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng who had repeatedly stated that the project would be privately financed.
“Wee had said that DreamEDGE’s largest shareholder was a company called VentureTech Sdn Bhd, which is 100 percent owned by Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), in turn, being completely owned by the Malaysian government.
“The prime minister has since denied having a hand in the PH government’s investment in DreamEDGE.
“Petronas was used as a cash cow with millions of ringgit worth of oil siphoned from Sarawak each day to fund Malaya’s mega projects.
“Is Sarawak’s oil meant to be used primarily for one man’s pet projects?” questioned Lo.
He commented that the aggressive exploration of Sarawak’s oil has been ramped up even more, especially after Sarawakians expressed their dissatisfaction about being one of the poorest states despite producing triple the amount of oil per day than Brunei, one of the richest countries in the world.
“Instead of proper schools, we have dilapidated ones. We also need a good education system,” the assemblyman said.
“We want a sensible education system that can put our youngsters on better footing. Our graduates’ poor marketability is evidence that the country’s education system is doing our students a disservice,” he said.
Thus, Lo emphasised that it was important for Sarawak to have education autonomy.
“Our late beloved Tok Nan (Pehin Sri Adenan Satem) took just one day to approve UEC (Unified Examination Certificate) and our present Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg approved the teaching of mathematics and science in English.
“The Sarawak government is simply not interested in playing politics with Malaya’s education policies. ,” he remarked.
Lo felt that the RM250 million siphoned daily to Malaya should be returned to Sarawak, as with its resources.
“We will be able to develop Sarawak from the present underdeveloped state to one that is technologically advanced,” he said.
Lo further noted that many parents send their children to universities overseas despite the high costs, believing this to be due to the lack of choices locally as the doors are closed to them in government education even though they pay taxes like everyone else.
“That is why the Chinese business community always has education funds to help these poor students.
“The PH government has to wake up and set their priorities right for all Malaysians,” he said.
