SUPP Kuching Branch's signature campaign against the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) is mere political stunt aimed at deceiving the people.
When the GST Act was tabled, SUPP MP cum cabinet minister Richard Riot supports the Bill. Thereafter, its party chairman also supports the implementation of GST. He even claimed that GST is good for the country because it can get more revenue for the Government to implement more projects.
As late as January, 2015, SUPP's woman wing has also criticise DAP for opposing GST.
All the records from the past till today, SUPP has been supporting the implementation of GST. Suddenly, 2 days ago, its Kuching Branch launched a signature campaign to oppose GST.
Is this not political stunt or some form of play-acting by the SUPP Kuching Branch?
There is no question that a large majority of Sarawakian oppose to the implementation of GST. You don't need a signature campaign to verify this.
The problem is, the BN Government ignores the wishes of the people and goes ahead with the implementation of GST. The simple reason being that, the BN leaders and cronies need the extra money to sustain their corruption.
Therefore, before SUPP Kuching Branch even starts to collect signatures to oppose GST, it should get its leaders, Chairman and Member of Parliament and ADUNs to state their position publicly.
We do not want a situation where, on the one hand, SUPP oppose the implementation of GST, but when faced with Najib and Adenan, its leader praises and supports GST.
Do not treat the people as fools and think that the people can be so easily deceived.
Chong (right) with Ho on his right, holds a letter from IRB demanding the deceased to pay his alleged tax outstanding from over 20 years ago.
KUCHING: An opposition lawmaker here wants the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) to stop 'tax harassment' of taxpayers for backdated claims of over six years.
Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen believed the Limitation Act 1953 and Sabah and Sarawak Limitation Ordinances should be amended so that agencies such as IRB stopped making backdated claims.
He said he planned to raise this matter in Parliament.
Recently, a widow, who wished to be known as Ho, received a letter from IRB demanding her late husband, Pui Kim Hong, pay outstanding tax of RM5,613.20 for assessment years from 1989 to 1993.
The letter, dated March 26, 2015, demanded the deceased to make arrangements to settle his alleged tax. IRB stated it was prepared to discuss payment proposal from the late Pui to lessen his financial burden.
The letter also mentioned that if the agency did not receive any response by April 9, 2015, court action could be taken against the deceased, who passed away on Aug 6, 1997.
In addition, it stated the late Pui could be barred from travelling outside the country under Section 104 of the Income Tax Act 1967.
According to state DAP chairman Chong, Ho had met with IRB officers only to be told that the family must pay the alleged outstanding debt.
Chong, who is also Kota Sentosa assemblyman, believed Ho should not be held for any outstanding tax, considering that she did not inherit anything from her husband, who passed away 18 years ago.
"It is a duty of the people to pay tax but there should be a limit on how IRB collect taxes. In this case, you can't expect a taxpayer to keep receipts up to 10 to 20 years. Even the bank has a limitation of six years. It's unfair for creditors to ask debtors for receipts.
"In Ho's case, she did not receive any inheritance. Under the Limitation Act, if you don't ask for money within the time limit, you lose those rights. What Inland Revenue did is inhuman and unethical," Chong told a press conference here yesterday.
Following a meeting with Ho, who is a petty trader, Chong said he had written a letter to the IRB, enclosed with a copy of Pui's death certificate.
Chong claimed that of late, IRB has been issuing letters demanding taxpayers to pay alleged outstanding tax payable some 10 to 20 years ago. Such letters included threats that if no payments were made, legal action and restriction of travel order would be issued.
He hoped IRB would have more respect for the law and basic principles of fairness and justice in the collection of debt.
The law of limitations in Malaysia is contained in the Limitation Act 1953 (Act 254) which declares itself to be an Act to provide for limitation of actions and arbitrations that applies only in Peninsular Malaysia.
Sabah and Sarawak have their own respective Limitation Ordinances, which share a similar format, except for some differences.
The scheme of the Act generally allows a period of six years – 12 years in the case of land – to bring an action for the relief that is sought.
Adenan should not keep promising the moon, but to act now on matters which he has the power to do.
I am referring to the UEC recognition issue which Adenan promised with many attached conditions and technicalities yet to be sorted out.
Photo by cn.theantdaily
The simple facts is that Sarawak State Government has the absolute power in the employment of state civil service and the award scholarship by the state-owned trust funds.
If the Sarawak State Government is sincere about giving recognition to the UEC, a simple directive from Adenan will suffice.
On these two matters, there is no need to consult the Federal Government and the Federal Government has no say at all. That is also the reason why I only mentioned the recognition of UEC in these two respect in the Sarawak DUN sittings earlier this year.
In the recent announcement from the government, in addition to the two matters, Adenan brought in the admission to Unimas as an additional item for recognition of UEC, knowing full well that admission to university is in fact a federal matter.
With the inclusion of this additional item which is not under the State's jurisdiction, Adenan's administration is now also delaying the implementation of the other two matters which are within the State's jurisdiction.
What Adenan should do is to take immediate action on matters which he has power to do while the so-called discussion with the Federal Government on matters outside his jurisdiction can go on.
For the Sarawak State Government to recognise the UEC, all that Adenan needs to do is to issue a circular to all State Government agencies stating that the UEC is the equivalent of STPM and that a credit in Bahasa Malaysia under the UEC is the equivalent of a credit in SPM Bahasa Malaysia.
There should also not be any additional requirement that UEC holders must also get a credit in SPM Bahasa Malaysia for them to be eligible to be employed as State civil servants.
At the moment, the Education Ministry does not allow Chinese Middle School students to sit for SPM Bahasa Malaysia single subject examination. The inclusion of this condition by Adenan will compel the Chinese Middle Schools students to sit for both UEC and the SPM examinations.
While the Chinese Middle Schools boards are talking about discussing with the Education Ministry to allow the students to sit for SPM single-subject BM examination, this will unnecessarily delay the recognition of UEC.
In principle, it is also wrong that on the one hand, the State Government claims to recognise UEC but on the other hand, the State Government does not recognise the results of UEC for Bahasa Malaysia subject.
Similar circular can also be issued to Yayasan Sarawak to specify that holders of UEC are eligible to apply for scholarship like all STPM certificate holders.
If Adenan is sincere about the State Government giving recognition to UEC, there should be some UEC holders (without SPM BM credit) being employed by the State Government by January, 2016.
Therefore, I urge Adenan to act now on matters which he has power, and not bring in matters outside his jurisdiction and delay the implementation of matters which he has absolute power.
Chong (third right) together with other DAP members showing the Ubah mascots at their headquarters yesterday.
KUCHING: Sarawak DAP will be hosting a grand dinner on Oct 16 in Sibu to kick start their preparations for the coming state election.
The dinner will also be used as a platform for the party to raise funds for their election campaign through the auctioning of five numbered 'Ubah' mascots.
"There are only five of this (Ubah mascots) in the whole world. It will be auctioned and the highest bidder during the dinner will bring it home," DAP state chairman Chong Chieng Jen told a press conference at their headquarters here yesterday.
He called on DAP supporters from near and far to attend the dinner.
When asked as to why Sibu was chosen to start their campaign, Chong said it was due to DAP's unfinished business.
"We have a specific unfinished business to finish off," said Chong, deflecting questions on what the 'unfinished' business was.
Chong, who is Kota Sentosa assemblyman and Bandar Kuching MP, also revealed that their election campaign slogan and theme song were being finalised and would be made public soon.
On another note, he said there was no reason for Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem to bar any opposition leader from entering the state, apparently referring to DAP publicity chief Tony Pua who was asked to leave the state recently.
"There should be proper justice and fairness not because of personal dealings or the interests of Barisan Nasional," he added.
Meanwhile, the state DAP will be submitting a proposal to Adenan today to improve the outer ring road in Sibu under the next state budget.
Chong further said state DAP would be holding the State Ordinary Members Convention at Crown Square on Nov 8 to elect 15 committee members, which is expected to be participated by 150 delegates.
KUCHING: Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen has ridiculed SUPP Kuching's campaign to gather 500,000 signatures to request exemption of Goods and Services Tax (GST) for Sarawak.
The Kota Sentosa assemblyman and state DAP chairman said the SUPP branch ought to make a clear stand whether action should be taken against it very MP who had voted in favour of GST, before going around asking people for their signatures.
"I was shocked when I read the papers today (yesterday) that SUPP Kuching is launching a signature campaign to request for exemption of GST for Sarawak. I think before they even ask people to sign, they should check the parliamentary record as I am certain their MP Richard Riot, who is also a minister in the federal cabinet, agreed and voted for GST.
"The GST Bill was passed in 2013 after the general election. All the opposition MPs were against it, but BN (Barisan Nasional) MPs including Sarawakian MPs all voted for it. Had the MPs from Sarawak voted against GST Bill, it would not be passed because they would not have gotten more than 51 per cent of the lower house.
"Now that SUPP wants to launch a full campaign on this, the first thing they should do is to take action against Richard Riot as well as Senator Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian for voting for GST. We do not want a scenario whereby your MP and Senator supported the Bill in Parliament when you try to be hero outside," he told reporters outside Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Petra Jaya here yesterday.
Chong described the move to gather signatures as 'ridiculous' and said SUPP Kuching was trying to fool the people on the matter.
"It is a very laughable move on their part. Outside, you say you're against it, but your MP in Parliament voted for it, supported it. This is what we call political cheat."
He also wondered whether the branch had received blessings from its partners in Sarawak BN.
"Ask them to make a stand first before getting signatures," he said, adding there was no point in collecting signatures if after that, Sarawak BN ordered the branch or the party not to go against the policy.
Chong pointed out that SUPP Kuching was bound by its party and BN discipline and it should therefore, put its house in order before anything else.
"There is no question about the people against GST, and the people of Kuching have spoken through DAP — we oppose. That is already very clear. What are you (SUPP Kuching) trying to do? Sandiwara! (Theatrical drama)."
At a press conference on Sunday, chairperson Datuk Lily Yong said SUPP Kuching would launch a signature campaign today to collect as many as 500,000 signatures to push for GST exemption for Sarawak.
She said 'everybody is suffering' since the implementation of GST in April this year, based on the feedback the branch had gathered, which had also prompted her to assert: "Sarawak is not ready for GST."
David (left) briefly goes through the proposal with Azmi. Chong is at the centre. — Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: Three DAP elected representatives from Sibu submitted their proposal for a Sibu Outer Ring Road to the special admin officer of the Chief Minister's Office, Azmi Bujang, yesterday.
Pelawan David Wong (Pelawan), Dudong assemblyman Yap Hoi Liong and Sibu MP Oscar Ling, who were accompanied by state DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen, had wanted to submit the proposal to the chief minister but they did not get to see Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem as they did not make an appointment to see him.
They were instead met by Azmi outside the security booth at Wisma Bapa Malaysia. Azmi acknowledged receipt of the proposal.
The proposal, said David, was to build three new roads and upgrade an existing road in Sibu for about RM70 million.
"One of them is at the Jalan Wong King Huo roundabout, connecting to JPJ, which is about 4.5km. There will be a bypass in the middle. We estimate it cost about RM30 million. Another one is connecting a residential area to another by constructing a bridge across Sungai Merah. That would cost around RM10 million.
"Another one is Teku Road to Sibu Golf Club area. A lot of those in Kampung Dato and Kampung Nangka will be relocated to this golf club area, so that road would be around 7km, costing some RM20 million," he told reporters after handing over the proposal to Azmi.
David opined that one of the oldest roads in Sibu – Jalan Oya – needed upgrading, too. The stretch from SMK St. Elizabeth to the traffic junction, he said, needed to be upgraded to a dual carriageway. That would cost about RM10 million.
He alleged there had been no new roads built in Sibu in the last two years, which led to massive traffic congestions during peak hours.
"What we are proposing is something good for the people of Sarawak, especially Sibu, and should be good for our chief minister and the state government."
He said Bawang Assan assemblyman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, who is also Second Finance Minister and Minister of Local Government and Community Development, had announced last March his proposal to build two roads in Sibu at a cost of RM106 million.
David claimed Soon Koh's proposal for the new road from Jalan Wong King Huo to JPJ would cost RM35 million while the other new road, which would connect directly from Sungai Merah to the golf club area, would cost RM71 million.
"His (Soon Koh) two roads cost RM106 million, but the ones we are proposing totalled only RM70 million."
He said their proposal also included urging the state government to source for 500 acres of state or NCR land along Teku Road for low-cost housing development.
"There is a lot of 'un-surveyed' land there. If we can have that new ring road, we will have more 'un-surveyed' land coming up. The state government can acquire and allocate them for low-cost housing projects, which would be good for Sibu people.
"I hope Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh does not just carry the name of Second Finance Minister but cannot do anything (with it). He should have some authority, or at least he should support our proposal. Whatever is good for Sibu … we should put politics aside."
To a question, David said they did not make the appointment because "what we want is to submit this proposal to his office and make sure that he receives it."
"I do not think the chief minister knows the conditions of Sibu like myself and my colleagues. So, he will need people from JKR (Public Works Department) and Land and Survey Department (LSD) and other authorities to source for the information that he needs."
He said the DAP had approached LSD Sibu for the information necessary to draft the proposal, stressing: "We do not just pluck the figures from the air. What we propose is credible and workable, for as long as it is through open tender."