Kuching: DAP Sarawak Chairman and Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen has called on the Sarawak Government to come clean over an alleged multi-million-dollar private jet transaction involving Sarawak-linked entities, questioning the ownership of the aircraft after the lease period and whether the deal was awarded through an open tender.
Chong said he had recently obtained information concerning a private aircraft reportedly valued at around US$70 million, although he was still verifying the exact amount and details.
“Based on the information currently available to me, the transaction was not carried out directly by the Sarawak Government, but was instead arranged through a related company whose major shareholders include Sarawak government-linked entities,” he said.
He stressed that regardless of whether the transaction was legally structured as a direct government procurement or conducted through a related company, it should not escape public scrutiny if government-linked institutions, public resources and the interests of Sarawakians are ultimately involved.
“At the end of the day, the money being spent is not the government’s own money. It is the people’s money,” he said.
According to the information obtained, Chong said the aircraft was acquired under a “dry lease” arrangement, raising questions over the lease period, total cost and ownership once the agreement expires.
“What exactly are the terms of this lease arrangement? How long is the lease period? Who will own the aircraft when the lease expires? What asset, if any, will the Sarawak Government or the related company ultimately acquire? Most importantly, what is the actual total cost of the entire arrangement?” he asked.
Chong also questioned whether other suppliers were invited to submit competing offers for an aircraft transaction involving tens of millions of US dollars.
“Why were several suppliers not compared? Why was there no open competition? Why this particular company? Why this particular price?” he asked.
He urged the Sarawak Government and entities involved to disclose the deal’s full value, supplier selection process, alternative arrangements and whether cheaper options were available.
Chong stressed that raising the questions did not mean wrongdoing had occurred, but was part of the opposition’s responsibility to ensure accountability.
He said he would formally write to the company concerned to seek clarification.
Chong also called for transparency over reports of a possible acquisition of another Falcon-series aircraft, saying details should be disclosed if public funds were involved.
“If tens of millions of dollars of the people’s money are involved, there should be more transparency, not less,” he said.
