Parliament: Motion to discuss funds misappropriation rejected

(The Star) – Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia rejected a motion by Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Bandar Kuching) to discuss the alleged misappropriation of government allocations which ran up to billions of ringgit in Sarawak.

Chong sought to move the adjournment of the House to discuss the matter but Pandikar decided that it had already been addressed.

“On Nov 30, you already raised this question during the committee level debate and it has already been answered by the minister involved,” Pandikar told Chong in the Dewan on Thursday.

Chong then said he was referring to the special allocations for Bandar Kuching on Nov 30 whereas he was now questioning the allocations given to the Sarawak state government by the Federal Government.

Pandikar said Chong was misleading the Dewan and warned him not to waste time on a matter that he already knew the answers to.

Chong was referring to a report by The Star dated Nov 29 on 60% of Sarawak state government allocations meant for vital infrastructure projects between 2002 and 2008 being siphoned. (Read here: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/11/29/nation/5204180&sec=nation)

He also questioned why the police wanted to investigate a case on the misappropriation of RM6mil worth of allocations when they should be looking into the billions of ringgit which were allegedly siphoned.