Kota Kinabalu: Parti Warisan’s Wanita Wing backed the call by its Strategic Communications Director Christopher Masudal for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into several controversial issues, particularly the management of Sabah Development Bank (SDB).
Warisan Wanita Chief Norfaizah Chua said an independent inquiry would determine whether the RM200 million in state fixed deposits converted into Redeemable Preference Shares (RPS) in SDB amounted to a bailout.
She said the inquiry should also revisit last year’s controversy involving the RM900 million sukuk bond issued through SMJ Energy to take over Sabah International Petroleum (SIP) debts.
Norfaizah also said Warisan Wanita leaders from the Interior had urged the Government to investigate alleged dubious logging agreements entered into by the previous State Government (pre-WarisanPlus) involving Yayasan Sabah concession lands, which many residents believe have contributed to worsening floods.
“Was Yayasan Sabah concession land allocated for legal and illegal logging, and if illegal activities occurred, why was enforcement not taken? These are questions Sabahans deserve answers to.
On 1 Aug, Masudal proposed an RCI into alleged maladministration in Sabah covering the State’s 40pc constitutional revenue entitlement, SDB, IMM13 holders and stateless persons, infrastructure and utilities, flooding, as well as land grabs and ombudsman-related matters.
Meanwhile, Warisan Penampang Wanita Chief Junny C Simol said Sabah’s worsening flood situation also warranted an independent inquiry and urged Government backbenchers to table motions supporting the proposal during the upcoming State Legislative Assembly sitting.
She noted that hundreds of millions of ringgit had been spent by successive Federal Governments over the past 15 years on flood mitigation, yet flooding had become more frequent and was now affecting areas previously untouched.
“Where has all the money gone? If delays were caused by land compensation or utility relocation, what measures will the Government take to complete these projects?“Sabahans also deserve answers on whether large-scale hill clearing for roads, plantations, logging or even the Pan Borneo Highway has contributed to flooding.
“These issues affect the daily lives of Sabahans and go beyond politics. We should pursue the transparency and good governance that the people expect from today’s Government,” she said.
