Kuching: RM600 million allocation for 4.8 km stretch of waterfront announced by Abang Jo yesterday raises a lot of questions and eyebrows.
Why is a project of such scale involving such huge amount not first discussed and approved in DUN sitting before the Government announcing and implementing it?
In last DUN sitting, Abdul Karim, the Tourism Minister, mentioned about the opening of the Brooke Dockyard Industrial Heritage Museum, but nothing was said about this 4.8 km waterfront.
I have looked through the Development Estimates for Year 2026 (Budget 2026) and could not find any item therein specifically providing for the allocation of the fund for this Waterfront project.
It is not proper parliamentary practice for the cabinet minister to first announce the allocation and implementation of such huge project and then seek the rubber-stamp of the legislature.
Even though it is a fact that with 80-to-2 majority in DUN, the GPS Government can pass whatever allocation they wish in DUN and ratify any prior use of public fund, it should nevertheless respect our parliamentary democracy and the institution of the Legislature.
For all government expenditure, unless unavoidable, it should always be subject to the approval of the legislature, Sarawak DUN before the utilisation of the public fund.
Is it now the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the Sarawak Government to announce first and seeks DUN’s rubber stamp to approve it later?
Going by the Premier’s announcement of RM600 million for 4.8 km of walkway, that is RM125 million/km, or an equivalent of RM125,000 per metre! That is a super-expensive construction cost!
The State government should be transparent and make public a detailed breakdown of the expenditure and how the amount will be spent.
Chong Chieng Jen
Member of Parliament for Stampin
22 April 2026
