Sibu: Sibu MP Oscar Ling Chai Yew has urged Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi to immediately explain the contradiction between his ministry’s official written parliamentary reply and his latest media statement regarding the Sarawak–Sabah Link Road Phase 1 (SSLR1) project.
Ling said he was deeply disappointed and shocked that Nanta had denied claims that SSLR1 had replaced three bridge projects in Sarawak, despite the minister’s previous written parliamentary reply stating otherwise.
According to Ling, the contradiction goes beyond mere interpretation and raises serious questions about the ministry’s credibility and Parliament’s integrity as an institution.
He pointed out that the official written reply from the Works Minister stated that “the three project components had been cancelled and replaced by the Sarawak–Sabah Link Road Phase 1 (SSLR1) project.”
Ling said the use of the word “replaced” in the official parliamentary record was unequivocal and left no room for alternative interpretation, as it represented the official position of both the Federal Government and the Ministry of Works.
He questioned why, after the parliamentary reply attracted public attention and appeared to contradict the long-standing political narrative of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) that the Pakatan Harapan government had “unfairly cancelled the three bridge projects,” the minister subsequently claimed that describing SSLR1 as having “replaced” the bridges was inaccurate.
“Official government administrative records are not political tools, nor can they be reinterpreted or altered to suit changing political needs,” Ling said in a statement.
He explained that, based on the official parliamentary reply, he had previously informed the public that the original allocation for the three bridge projects had been restructured to finance SSLR1, which is valued at RM1.13 billion.
Ling added that with Phase 2 of SSLR estimated to cost between RM7.4 billion and RM7.6 billion, the Federal Government’s total investment in the project is now approaching RM8.7 billion.
He also reminded Nanta that Parliament is the nation’s highest legislative institution and that all information submitted to the Dewan Rakyat must be accurate and not misleading.
Ling said that if the minister’s latest statement reflects the true position, then Nanta must accept responsibility for the inaccuracies contained in the written parliamentary reply.
He added that he is not ruling out tabling a motion under Standing Order 36(12) of the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders to refer the Works Minister to the Parliamentary Committee of Privileges over allegations of misleading the House.
In the same statement, Ling also responded to remarks by ADUN for Batu Kitang Datuk Lo Khere Chiang, stressing that the funding for the three bridge projects had in fact been reallocated to the SSLR project rather than being “taken away” from Sarawak.
Ling further questioned why, following the change of federal government through the Sheraton Move in 2020, when GPS became part of the Federal Government, no effort was made to restore the original bridge allocations, with the Sarawak Government instead financing the construction of the bridges itself.
He said this further reinforced the Ministry of Works’ written parliamentary reply that the development funds had not disappeared but had instead been restructured for the implementation of the SSLR project.
Concluding his statement, Ling urged Nanta to clarify whether the official written parliamentary reply was misleading or whether the minister had since changed his position to protect his party’s political interests.
“The people want the truth, not contradictory statements between Parliament and the media. Sarawakians deserve to know the real facts,” he said.
