Newly elected Padungan assemblyperson Dominique Ng has submitted two questions about Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud's family-controlled business in the coming state assembly.

In one question, Ng wants to know the break-down of contracts awarded by the state government to the public-listed conglomerate Cahaya Mata Sarawak Bhd (CMSB) and its subsidiaries from 1990 onwards.

The sole Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) elected representative also wants to know the value of the contracts and the total sum paid so far to CMSB.

His second question relates to the shares allegedly held by Taib's family members in the company.

According to Ng, Taib's wife Hajjah Laila, owns 37 million shares (11.2 percent) in CMSB while his two sons (Sulaiman and Mahmud Abu Bekir) hold 22.5 percent of CMSB each, thus making Taib's family the majority shareholders.

"CMSB has been getting hundreds of millions in contracts from the Sarawak government, including the latest project - RM300 million new Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) building," said Ng.

He added that there was an element of conflict of interest since both Taib's son were shareholders in the company.

Loss-making company

In CMSB's unaudited interim report to Bursa Malaysia dated Feb 28, the company reported a loss of RM103 million.

The company deals in seven major areas namely banking, securities, cement and construction materials, steel, construction and road maintenance, property development, and services.

Sulaiman was formerly the chairperson of ailing financial services giant, Rashid Hussein Berhad which operates RHB Bank.

Six other questions for oral reply submitted by Ng covers racial quotas in employment and promotions in the Sarawak Civil Service, forestry and conservation, a proposal for a Deputy Prime Minister from Sarawak, rotation of the chief minister's post and finally, the use of English, Mandarin and Iban as official languages in addition to Bahasa Melayu.

On July 24, the 71-member state assembly will sit for the first time since the May 20 state elections. The Barisan Nasional has 62 members while the rest are opposition, including six under DAP and one each under PKR and Snap and one Independent.