Sabtu, 20 Disember 2014

Chong Chieng Jen's Blog

Chong Chieng Jen's Blog


‘Remove Awang Tengah to curb illegal logging’

Posted: 19 Dec 2014 09:51 PM PST

Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem must remove his Second Resource Planning and Environment Minister Awang Tengah Ali Hassan if he is really serious in curbing illegal logging activities in the state, said Sarawak DAP Chief Chong Chieng Jen.

"If Adenan is serious about curbing illegal logging activities, he has to remove Awang Tengah, otherwise the forest officers see his retention as a sign of weakness on the part of the chief minister," said Chong when asked to comment on Adenan's warning to enforcement and forestry officers against taking bribes over illegal logging.

Chong said that Awang Tengah, who was appointed by the then-chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud had been there for the last 10 years and he was seen as not doing anything on illegal logging.

The second minister had been "sleeping" on his job, he added.

On the seizures of logs, Chong, who is the MP for Bandar Kuching and the state assemblyperson for Kota Sentosa, said that he had seen photographs taken on the logs that were seized for the past three months.

Those were small logs which had no commercial value and there were only good for pallets, he said.

 "Those seizures are not true... it was only for show and the message is since you want to catch the illegal logging we let you catch some.

"I don't see pictures of big logs being seized," Chong (left) said, pointing out that if Adenan was really serious about curbing illegal logging activities he had to do something drastic such as removing his second minister.

In the November sitting of the state assembly, a number of DAP lawmakers had asked Adenan to remove Awang Tengah as he was  not effective against illegal logging, resulting in the loss of hundreds of millions of ringgit in terms of revenue.

The rampancy of illegal logging activities came to light after Adenan took over as chief minister on Feb 28, 2014 from Taib who relinquished the chief ministership after helming the state administration for more than 33 years.

In the past few months Adenan had been meeting with enforcement officers, timber tycoons and timber operators and telling them that he was serious about corruption and illegal logging activities.

Last Thursday, Adenan told enforcement and forestry officers over dinner that he might need the assistance of the Malaysian Anti-corruption Commission if illegal logging activities still persisted.

Expressing his frustration with some forestry officers, Adenan, who is the First Resource Planning and Environment Minister, said that despite that Sarawak having one of the best detection systems to monitor logging activities, illegal logging activities continued to rampage the state forests and national parks.

High-tech detection systems, but...

He said that the state's detection systems were accessible to satellite photos and topography and mapping system, and yet the officers were unable at the touch of a button to determine areas with licensed operators and those of illegal logging.

"This must be due lack of expertise apart from weak enforcement and corruption among forestry officers," he said.

He said some forest officers did not even know the boundaries of timber concessions and companies operating within their areas, while some chose to accept bribes to guarantee their safety against illegal operators carrying weapons.

He admitted that stories of corrupt practices amongst enforcement officers were not rumours, adding that illegal logging activities had gotten worse that even national parks were encroached and found it very suspicious when officers were unaware of their surroundings.

He said: "We have started war against illegal logging and smuggling of logs. Sarawak forest is our treasure. Like all treasures, we should take great care and love our forests.

"I mean what I said... don't mess with me," he  told forestry  officers and other diners.

Awang Tengah was one of those present.

on Malaysiakini(20/12/2014)

只充公价值不高木桐,疑取缔如作秀

Posted: 19 Dec 2014 05:48 PM PST

(本报古晋19日讯)行动党古晋区国会议员张健仁怀疑,砂州政府所谓的严厉对付非法伐木只是"作秀",因为在许多取缔行动中,被充公的只是商业价值不高的木桐。
他在今午被询及砂州首席部长丹斯里阿迪南沙登在对付非法伐木一事上的行事作风时称,首长未将相关的州内阁部长撤换,显示其要真正杜绝非法伐木活动的决心并不坚决。
与此同时,张健仁也认为,在过去的多项取缔非法伐木行动中,有关当局所充公的木桐,都是是一些商业价值不高,体积不大的木材,因此他怀疑,所谓的严厉对付非法伐木只是在作秀。
"被充公的只是低商业价值的木材。"

取自诗华日报(19/12/2014)

电力局追讨数额离谱 5899电费 怎么算?

Posted: 19 Dec 2014 05:43 PM PST

刘纯铭(右)遭电力局追讨5899令吉电费,行动党古晋区国会议员张健仁(左)协助将此事投诉至消费人仲裁庭。
(本报古晋19日讯)事主遭电力局追讨5899令吉电费,行动党古晋区国会议员张健仁协助将此事投诉至消费人仲裁庭。
据了解,事主刘纯铭是在2009年1月搬入峇哥路一住宅区双层排屋。到了2010年3月,砂电力局前来更新电表,并再3个月后,向他追讨过去14个月,共5899令吉的电费,再加上行政费及新电表费,事主总共得缴交6449令吉20仙。
同时也是哥打圣淘沙区州议员的张健仁表示,未更换电表前,事主每月电费大约是90令吉,更换电表后,电费增加至145令吉左右。若以此差距计算,事主每月大概也只是少还了50多令吉,追算14个月至多也只是700多令吉,岂有高达5000多令吉之理?
求情不受理
事主较后曾多次向砂电力局求情,但不得要领,因此张健仁在12月9日代他致函电力局,该局隔天(10日)也回函表示会关注此事,但没想到在11日,砂电力局却中断了事主住家的电流供应。
"这是滥用权力的表现,电力局虽有权力中断电流,但在上述事件中,却于理不合。"
有鉴于此,张健仁于今日下午陪同刘纯铭向消费人仲裁庭投诉此事,但也被告知,基于条例问题,该投诉或许无法在消费人仲裁庭受理。他说:"若真如此,我们将把此事带上法庭。"

取自诗华日报(19/12/2014)

Nuffnang