Kuching: Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen has submitted a total of 10 oral questions to the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) in preparation for the upcoming sitting scheduled from 24 November to 3 December.
The questions cover a wide range of issues, from infrastructure and public transport to government investments and economic matters. Below is the list of questions submitted by Chong:
- To ask the Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development, Sarawak, to state the progress of the technical study for the proposed upgrading of the Stutong Link Road from the roundabout near One TJ to the TT3 traffic light intersection, and what is the outcome of the said technical study to resolve the traffic congestion problem in the area.
- To ask the Honourable Premier to state what has become of the three hydrogen buses launched for service in Kuching in 2020, and what were the acquisition and operation costs of running these buses?
- To ask the Honourable Premier to state the total investment and operation costs incurred by the Sarawak Government and Sarawak Energy Berhad thus far for the Chitose Carbon Capture microalgae production facility launched at Sarawak Energy’s Sejingkat Power Plant since its inception in 2020, and the revenue generated from the production of algae biomass.
- To ask the Honourable Premier to state why the State Government is allowing the unchecked sprouting out of coffee shops that have operated as a disguise for online gambling outlets and what measures the government proposes to take to tackle this problem of online gambling outlets operating under coffee shop licences?
- To ask the Honourable Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development Sarawak to state whether the State Government will allow for the variation of prices in relation to the “transport of material” component in existing government contracts that are affected by the increase in transport costs as a result of the recent strict enforcement of the permitted weight load of trucks and lorries by the Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan?
- To ask the Honourable Premier to state whether the State Government will consider and implement the concept of “building and operating a private hospital but charging public hospital rates for all Sarawakians” to complement the current inadequate services provided by the public hospital?
- To ask the Honourable Premier to state the list of the names of all construction projects of the State Government and/or its agencies in Sarawak undertaken by companies that are subsidiaries of companies from China, either in their capacity as main contractor or subcontractor, and the respective amounts of the projects involved, starting from 2015 to date. Kindly also provide the respective names of these companies.
- To ask the Honourable Premier to state the list of all debts owed and/or guaranteed payment by the State Government and its subsidiaries, and the details of such debts, including the principal amounts, interest payable, purposes of the debts, and repayment terms.
- To ask the Honourable Minister for Utilities and Telecommunication to state the list of projects proposed so that the State can achieve the target of 10 GW electricity generation capacity in 2030 from the current 5.9 GW generation capacity and the respective estimated costs of such projects.
- To ask the Honourable Premier to state the values of exports and imports of Sarawak and to provide the detailed categories of goods exported and imported and their respective values for the years 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Chong, who is also Stampin MP and DAP Sarawak Chairman, emphasised that these questions aim to address constituents’ concerns and promote transparency and accountability in state governance.
“The questions submitted reflect matters that directly impact the people of Sarawak. I hope the assembly will provide comprehensive and clear responses,” he said.
The DUN sitting, spanning over a week, is expected to include question-and-answer sessions, debates, and discussions on policy matters crucial to Sarawak’s development.
