Rabu, 29 Jun 2016

Chong Chieng Jen's Blog

Chong Chieng Jen's Blog


张健仁:河道加深工程未展开 提前征维修费太荒谬

Posted: 28 Jun 2016 05:48 PM PDT

(本报古晋28日讯)砂行动党国州议员张健仁抨击砂州政府不应在未展开古晋海港局河道加深工程的情况下,提前征收河道维修费用,此行为等同向人民征收额外的费用。


他今日在新闻发布会上指出,是项由联邦政府斥资3亿6000万令吉落实的工程,预计在今年内展开至2019年才能竣工,因此砂州政府何来理由在工程未进行,便先向相关单位征收河道的维修费用。
"工程还未开始,海港局却向消费者事先征收河道工程完成后的维修费用,这简直是荒谬的做法。"
张健仁指出,根据古晋海港局6月13日的公告,河道维修费将会在7月1日开始征收,任何经过古晋海港局的货物每TEU(20英尺集装箱换算单位)将额外征收36令吉25仙,其他散货则以每公吨1令吉来计算,这些额外收费预料将为该局提高20%的收入。
他也指出,目前的港口征费为每集装箱换算单位156令吉25仙,若加上额外每换算单位36令吉25仙的收费,意味着港口征费增加了23%(或192令吉50仙)。
额外费用砂民买单
"古晋海港局于2014年的总货运量为940万公吨,其中540万公吨是集装箱,剩余370万公吨为散货。两者额外费用结合起来可为该局征收额外1100万令吉,羊毛出在羊身上,这些额外费用将会由砂拉越人民来承担。"
因此,张健仁促请砂州政府废除这项举措或推迟至工程落成后(即2019年后)才执行征费,因为这些额外收费无疑将由砂州人民承担。
他声称,征收河道维修费属于砂州政府的权限,而砂州选举结束不及2个月,州政府已迫不及待作出这项宣布,证明有关措施早在选举前便已定下,只是碍于州选在即暂时掩盖。
他说,落实这项措施基本上就是砂州政府想要透过海港局向砂州人民征收更多的钱。
《转载自 诗华日报》

张健仁:忠于国阵付出代价 权力下放不进则退

Posted: 28 Jun 2016 05:46 PM PDT

 (本报古晋28日讯)砂行动党主席兼国州议员张健仁表示,砂国阵在与联邦商谈权力下放或新的内阁改组分配未受到中央重视,反而不进则退,就是忠于国阵所付出的代价。

他今日在新闻发布会上针对首相纳吉昨日公布的新内阁阵容受访时表示,尽管砂国阵在过去的州选中打出漂亮的胜仗,但纵观砂州在向联邦政府商讨权力下放至昨日的新内阁改组,砂州却失去一个正部长职。
他指出,道格拉斯辞去的正部长职理应是由同样来自砂州的代表接任,而不是西马民政党的马袖强担任。
收回正部长职
"尽管砂国阵为纳吉打下漂亮的选战,最终的结果却以副部长的职位来补偿一个正部长的职位,这不是奖励砂国阵的方式。"
他说,这也显示纳吉充满信心砂国阵将继续无条件支持国阵,因此全国国阵并不需给予砂州更多权力,甚至把正部长职也收回,仅以副部长来做"代替"。
张健仁指出,根据联邦政府的运作,副部长一般的职责只是在国会内代表部长回答国会议员的提问或出席"剪彩"活动,实际上未被给予决策权力,甚至不及部门总秘书的权限。
他也揶揄,阿迪南过去曾提及砂州政府要更大声向联邦政府争取更多的权力下放,如今却在内阁改组事宜上不进则退,这就是作为国阵定存州以及忠于国阵所付出的代价。
《转载自 诗华日报》

DAP protests Kuching Port Authority maintenance fees

Posted: 28 Jun 2016 05:39 PM PDT

KPA to charge shipping firms channel maintenance fee even though dredging project yet to begin, says state DAP chief


KUCHING: The DAP has criticised a new tariff to be imposed on shipping firms for vessels that berth at the Kuching Port Pending terminal.
On June 10, the Kuching Port Authority (KPA) announced that it will impose a new tariff known as the channel maintenance fee of RM1 per tonne of cargo/passengers within its limit area effective from June 1.
The tariff was supposed to have been levied retroactively, but the imposition of the tariff was later postponed to July 1.
KPA said it derived its authority to impose the tariff from the gazetting of Kuching Port Authority (Dues, Rates & Charges) (Amendments) Regulations 2016 early this year.
The tariff applies to movement of cargo or passengers in and out of Sarawak. Movement of cargo and passengers within Sarawak are exempted.
A Federal Government-funded dredging project, estimated to cost some RM360 million and implemented under the 11th Malaysia Plan, will be undertaken to deepen a 23.4km-long navigational channel from the Pending terminal to Tanjung Po, a coastal promontory.
Dredging works has been slated to commence later this year, and will be completed by 2019. The Sarawak authorities are required to fund the maintenance of the dredged channel.
State DAP leader Chong Chieng Jen said KPA stands to collect RM11 million annually for the maintenance of a channel that has yet to be dredged.
"This is similar to charging taxpayers for the maintenance of a road before it is even built. Before they deepen the channel, they charge you for the maintenance of the channel first."
"This is most ridiculous. It is daylight robbery and this is a policy of the Sarawak state government," he told reporters in Kuching today.
Currently, cargo ships await for high tides in order to sail up the Sarawak River. A deepened channel would allow larger cargo vessels and cruise ships to berth at the Pending Terminal.
The proposed dredging works would deepen that stretch of the Sarawak river to 9 metres deep, with tidal water up to 12 metres (draught). The river has a current depth of 7.5 metres and a width of 190 metres.
"The facilities are not there. The channel has not been deepened but the maintenance charges are there already. This is not a Federal government policy. This is a state policy, and it is imposed so shortly after the state election," Chong said.
"Obviously the intention to charge the additional fees was there before the election. But now the true colours of the Sarawak state government are being revealed," he said.
This year, a RM50 million allocation has been set aside for the project to pay for an environmental impact assessment study and hydraulic study to be carried out.
Kuching Port Authority (KPA) general manager Rosli Saup was quoted as saying last Monday that the fee collection is expected to be between RM9 million and RM10 million annually, and will be channeled into the state government coffers to fund the maintenance cost of the dredged channel.
- Freemalaysiatoday june 29, 2016

Cabinet reshuffle: Putrajaya let down Adenan, says S’wak DAP

Posted: 27 Jun 2016 05:42 PM PDT

Adenan Satem was talking about more devolution of powers to Sarawak but instead, the number of Sarawak Cabinet members has been reduced

PETALING JAYA: Putrajaya has disappointed Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem despite his success in giving Barisan Nasional a huge win in the last state election.
State DAP Chairman Chong Chieng Jen said this when commenting on the Cabinet reshuffle which saw Sarawak ruling party, PBB, lose one full ministerial post.
"That is kind of obvious, isn't it? Now that the Sarawak election is over, Douglas Uggah's position was given to someone else who is not from the state," he said.
Former Plantations and Commodities Minister Douglas Uggah Embas resigned from the federal minister's post following his appointment as one of three Sarawak deputy chief ministers.
Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi was expected to take his place to maintain the number of Cabinet ministers from Sarawak at five.
That, however, did not happen as the post went to Gerakan President Mah Siew Keong instead.
"I would like to pose a question to Adenan. What does he have to say on this?
"He was talking about more devolution of powers to Sarawak but before that can happen, there is already a reduction in the number of Sarawak full ministers at the federal level."
Chong also said that Adenan now had a lot to explain to the voters who in the 11th state election last month, gave him a bigger mandate, resulting in DAP losing five of its Chinese-majority seats.
"The people of Sarawak gave him a bigger mandate and yet, he allowed himself to be screwed by the Federal Government.
"Either the Federal Government screwed him up, or he screwed it up. Either way, how did they lose a full ministerial post despite obtaining a bigger victory (in the May 7 state election)?"
- Freemalaysiatoday june 28, 2016

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