Sarawak DAP has advised Chief Minister Adenan Satem to walk the talk if really against cronyism by nullifying the agreement between the state and a private company to alienate 267.15 acres of state land opposite MJC Batu Kawah, Kuching.

The land has been  alienated at mere RM115 million instead of the market value of RM500 million and to prove that his government does not tolerate cronyism Adenan has to cancel the accord .

“Not only the terms in the agreement are totally lop-sided, but the payment terms are contain a lot of uncertainties,” said Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen ( left ) at a media conference yesterday.

The agreement was stamped and was signed by state cecretary Morshidi Abdul Gani on behalf of the state government.

Chong, who is the MP for Bandar Kuching and Kota Sentosa assemblyperson, said that he had read through the agreement and noted three main interesting features.

Firstly, the state government will alienate 267.15 acres opposite MJC Batu Kawah at a price of RM115 million.

Big hearted to private sector

Secondly, this RM115 million will not be paid by the company in cash to the government. Instead the firm will build two orphanages, one in Lawas and the other in Mukah. Plans will be provided for government approval.

The third condition concerns the construction of a ‘SABATI’ (Badan Amal Tenaga Isteri-Isteri Sarawak) building at Jalan Bako, Kuching with plans also to be provided for government approval.

The construction of these buildings will be done in the future, but the land will have to be alienated now. The value of the buildings will be estimated by JKR, and if the costs of the three buildings exceed RM115 million, then the government will fork out some more money to the company.

Chong said that the cost of the three buildings have been fixed at RM115 million. By the time they are  ready, the construction  cost could escalate to RM160 million or even more for example due to the rising price of building materials.

“That means the government will have to pay the company RM45 million more. But if the cost is less than RM115 million, the company will keep the money and will only pay back the balance to the government once the projects have been completed.

“I think this agreement is totally lop-sided and there are a lot of uncertainties in the agreement,” he said.

Chong believes that the agreement was prepared well before Adenan ( left ) took over as chief minister on March 1, 2014.

“But it was signed on March 8, 2014 during Adenan’s tenure ,” he said, pointing out that due to these uncertainties and unreasonableness, the agreement could be nullified.

“The government has the legal right to nullify these agreements, given Adenan’s stand in the past few months that he did not approve of cronyism, I think this alienation project is the first test for him,” he said.

He added since the agreement was decided long before he took office , he can prove that his government is against cronyism by cancelling it.

“He has the power to nullify it. So I urge him to walk the talk and prove to Sarawakians that he is different from previous chief ministers who had taken the people of Sarawak for a ride,” he said.