Kuching: Why did state-owned Hornbill Skyways borrow RM168 million from the Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS), an institution established to finance infrastructure development, and does the loan contravene the bank’s charter and core mandate?
This is the question raised by Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen, who called on the Sarawak Government to provide a clear explanation, stressing that Sarawakians deserve answers.
In his Facebook statement, Yii, who is also DAP Sarawak Publicity Secretary, said DAP Sarawak had raised serious concerns from the beginning over Hornbill Skyways’ lease of a used 2016 Dassault Falcon 8X jet, which involved a total payment of US$71.77 million (approximately RM300 million).
“The lease was approved without an open tender, just days after the proposal was submitted in January 2023,” he said.
Yii said a further search of Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) records on the company’s particulars of charges revealed that Hornbill Skyways obtained a RM168 million loan from DBOS in July 2023, the same year the first payment for the jet was made.
“DBOS firstly is not a commercial bank. It exists on the sole reason to fund Sarawak’s infrastructure development with funds coming from the government itself, which means it is the people’s money.
“DBOS’s transactions and fiscal statements are not tabled in the DUN, so none of this is ever answered or shown transparently to the people of Sarawak,” he said.
According to DBOS, it operates as a development financial institution, focusing on lending activities funded through capital injections from its holding company, deposits from the Sarawak government, and contributions from statutory bodies and government-linked companies.
“Its primary role is to assist the Sarawak government in advancing strategic infrastructure projects,” Yii said.
He stressed that questions involving the use of public funds and state-linked institutions should be addressed transparently.
“Checks and balances are not an attack on the government. We want what is best for Sarawak! Raising questions should be met with transparency, not suspension,” he said.
