Rabu, 18 Mac 2015

Chong Chieng Jen's Blog

Chong Chieng Jen's Blog


Motion to protect rights of 200 Orang Asal families submitted

Posted: 16 Mar 2015 06:41 PM PDT

The Sarawak Government must stop the policy of giving land away cheaply to its cronies while the people receive nothing in terms of compensation.


KUALA LUMPUR: Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen on Tuesday submitted to the Speaker a motion under standing order 18 (1) to ask Parliament to give immediate consideration for the protection of the human rights and welfare of over 200 Orang Asal families in Bintulu "to avoid any serious conflict and fighting".
One hundred and ten families in the Sebatang area, Tg. Kidurong road, Bintulu have been given until Wednesday to vacate the land or their houses will be demolished.
A company, which has been given the land by the Sarawak Government, has been seen going around the affected homes . "The affected folks said that it's not that they do not want to move but they really do not have a place to move to," said Chong.
A High Court Judge has set April 21, 2015 to hear the case of another 91 families in the same area who are defendants. The defendants had been brought up to the Bintulu High court to vacate the land Lot 3113, Kemena Land District where they had been staying for decades.
The second group of affected families are being represented by Padungan MP Wong King Wei.
Kidurong Assemblyman Chiew Chin Sing called on the government to step in and "allocate a place for the over 200 families to move to and resolve the situation amicably before it is too late".
He said that it was ironical that the Sarawak Government should sell the 200-acre property for RM27.8 million in 2012 to a private company while the Orang Asal who had been staying there for decades received nothing and had to leave.
"The premium for the 200 acre land is RM27.8 million or RM139,000 an acre while the value of the land there is easily ten times that," he said. "It is high time the Sarawak Government stop the policy of giving land cheaply to its cronies while the people continue to be neglected by it."

on freemalaysiatoday (17/3/2015)

Chong: House prices will definitely rise after GST

Posted: 13 Mar 2015 06:30 PM PDT

Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen is certain that the prices of houses will definitely rise with the implementation of goods and services tax (GST) on April 1.

"I can assure you that the prices of houses will rise due to the prices of building materials, such as cement and steel bars, which are subject to the six percent tax," Chong told the media.

He said he found it amusing or even strange that Sarawak Housing Minister Abang Johari Openg and his deputy Abdul Karim Hamzah have been issuing contradictory statements on the impact of the GST on the prices of housing after its implementation in April.

Chong yesterday showed a newspaper clipping dated Oct 13, 2014, to reporters, which quoted Abang Johari (left) as saying: "After the implementation of GST, house prices should fall, unless my maths is very poor.

"Prospective house buyers in Sarawak should not fall for the claims by developers that property prices would increase following the implementation of GST on April 1, saying that buyers would not be burdened by the six percent GST as developers would enjoy an input tax deduction for the building materials they used.

"They have to pay GST for the materials, of course, but at the end of the day the building process chain, developers can claim GST back on what they had purchased.

"The price of houses cannot be higher than what it is now. At the moment you are paying 10 percent government tax, plus six percent sales tax. If it imposed at six percent, then it should be lower. That's the logic," Abang Johari had said.

'Year-to-year prices will appreciate'

Chong who is the MP for Bandar Kuching and Kota Sentosa assemblyperson, then showed another paper clipping dated March 7 this year which quoted Abdul Karim as saying that after the implementation of GST, house prices would increase by three to four percent.

"It (price) might probably be a three to four percent increase, but then it is still subject to market forces. Year-to-year the prices will definitely appreciate," Abdul Karim had said.

Chiding Abang Johari for his 'poor maths', Chong told newsmen that he agreed with Abdul Karim for the fact that a lot of building materials are not subject to sales tax, but when GST is implemented, prices of building materials, such as cement and steel bars, would be subjected to the six percent tax.

Abdul Karim was correct to say that house buyers could expect to pay more for house prices after April 1, citing a terrace house as an example.

He said that a buyer who went for a terrace house which was worth RM350,000 would be expected to pay another RM30,000 for the total cost of GST.
 
on Malaysiakini(14/3/2015)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Posted: 10 Mar 2015 06:49 PM PDT



Calling out for 10 VOLUNTEERS! Impian Sabah is hitting the roads again this 22-29 March 2015. This village road upgrade project will benefit 6 villages in total.

Volunteers will be working alongside with locals to work on the culvert system for the road. Your task will involve working closely with the Project Manager in concrete work, foam work and cangkul works. Discover Sabah in a meaningful way!
Your expenses will include airfare (if applicable) to Kota Kinabalu Airport and RM250 volunteer contribution that covers your return ground transfer from KK Airport to the kampung, food and accommodation in the kampung and insurance.
If you're up for the challenge, sign up as a volunteer here :http://impianmalaysia.com/registration/index.php
For further enquiries, drop us a mail atimpiansabah@gmail.com.
See you in Sabah!
www.impianmalaysia.com

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