Was RM200k set aside for CNY night market, Warisan asks Sabah DAP

Summary

• Warisan’s legal adviser Chin Tek Ming wants Sabah DAP chairperson Phoong Jin Zhe to clarify if the state government allocated RM200,000 for a Chinese New Year night market.

• Chin raises issue in light of concerns over high rental rates charged.

Warisan’s legal adviser Chin Tek Ming has called on Sabah DAP chairperson Phoong Jin Zhe to clarify whether the state government allocated RM200,000 for a Chinese New Year night market.

Chin raised the issue in response to claims circulating on social media that the Luyang assemblyperson’s office received the allocation, prompting concerns over the high rental rates charged.

“It is alleged that the rental fee for the three-day night market at Foh Sang was RM550 per stall, covering the cost of canopies, electricity, and performances.

“However, vendors were only given the option to pay the RM550 directly to the organiser—the Luyang assemblyperson’s office—which was purportedly authorised by Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) to collect the fees,” Chin said in response to public concerns.

Phoong, who is also the state minister of industrial development and entrepreneurship, explained that the total cost of organising the night market amounted to RM120,000.

“According to Phoong, the revenue collected from vendors covered half of the project costs, and he had to find other means to cover the balance,” he added.

Why need for rental charge?

Chin said that if it is true that RM200,000 was allocated, the sum would have been more than sufficient to cover the RM120,000 mentioned by Phoong in his Facebook post.

“Since there is a surplus even without collecting RM550 per stall, why is there a need for the stall to pay RM550 each? Where does the surplus from this event go?

“Didn’t Phoong know that it would be a financial burden for those stall operators who are not high-income earners?” he queried.

Chin said the issue is particularly concerning considering that the night market was originally established by Phoong during his first term as Luyang assemblyperson under the Warisan-led state government.

“During that time, there were no complaints about stall rental charges,” he added.

Citing transparency and public accountability, Chin called on Phoong to confirm if the alleged RM200,000 allocation was true.

“As a sitting cabinet member and a representative of the people, he must uphold the highest standards of integrity by immediately disclosing the financial records.

“Given his active presence on social media, there should be no hesitation nor excuse in addressing public concerns.

“If he continues to remain silent and evade scrutiny, the public has every right to judge and form their own conclusions,” Chin concluded.

Malaysiakini has contacted Phoong for comment.

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