DAP is distributing thousands of pamphlets in Kuching to protest the state government's allegedly 'extravagant and wasteful' expenditure on a new state legislative assembly building.

In its pamphlets, the opposition party called for the cancellation of the RM300 million project, now under construction on the north bank of Sungai Sarawak.

The money, according to Bandar Kuching member of Parliament Chong Chieng Jen, could be used for more beneficial projects.

Chong, who is DAP Sarawak secretary, together with party supporters have distributed some 8,000 pamphlets in the state capital since last month.

Last night, he and party supporters visited a large residential area BDC and a new shopping mall RH Plaza near the Kuching International Airport to distribute the pamphlets.

"The main purpose is to create awareness (among the people) of how wasteful and extravagant this government is," he said when met.

Several consultants have said that with changes and variations to original plans, the new building could eventually end up costing taxpayers between RM400 and RM500 million.

Personal glorification

Chong questioned the need for such a costly project, which he said would serve no additional use compared with the present building erected in the 1970s.

"What the new and expensive building can do that the existing one cannot do is only symbolize the personal glorification of an individual," he said in an obvious reference to Chief Minister Taib Mahmud who mooted the idea for the new building.

The DAP leader said between 1998 and 2003, the state legislative assembly did not meet more than 20 days a year. In 2002, the assembly only sat for 12 days and the longest was in 2001 (20 days). Last year, it sat for less than three weeks.

Chong also pointed out that the money allocated for the new building could instead be used to build a flood-mitigation canal to end the constant fear of flooding among the people of Kuching.

He quoted Deputy Chief Minister Dr George Chan, whom in several public speeches, estimated that the canal would cost about RM300 million.

Alternatively, he said the money could be used to build 9,000 low-cost houses. It can also be disbursed as annual financial assistance for Chinese primary and secondary schools or to increase subsidies for petrol and diesel to lower the cost of living.

Apart from these, he added that the money could be used to build two more 'Tun Salahuddin' bridges without toll collection.

(The Tun Salahuddin Bridge at Tanah Puteh is Kuching City's second bridge where passing vehicles have to pay toll)

Chong also said the money could be used to increase financial allocations to local councils, help reduce annual assessment rates and improve the councils' efficiency.

Last but not least, he added that the enormous sum can be used to beef-up the police force or to provide full subsidy for 1,000 medical students in the country.

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini 's Sarawak-based stringer.