Sarawak DAP leader Wong Ho Leng has urged the Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud-led state government to have, what he termed as the 'moral fibre', to declare war on corruption.

What should be done is to hold public forums and seminars and to ensure a more transparent and accountable government, he said when debating a motion calling for support of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's National Integrity Plan to promote good governance and eliminate corrupt practices in all sectors of society in Malaysia.

Wong, the opposition assemblyperson for Bukit Assek, had given notice earlier to move a similar motion but this was 'highjacked' and replaced by the one moved by Barisan Nasional state assemblyperson for Tanjung Datu, Adenan Satem, during yesterday's state assembly sitting.

When introducing his motion, Adenan, a former state and federal minister, said the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) Act has been implemented since the 1970s and the ACA was doing a good job and therefore there was no need for other parties to call for the eradication of corruption.

The two motions were put to a vote and as the ruling coalition's backbenchers have an overwhelming presence in the assembly, the outcome was predictable.

Logging concessions

DAP state assemblyperson for Kota Sentosa Chong Chieng Jen voted with both hands, indicating his support for both motions.

However, Speaker Awang Asfia Awang Nassar reprimanded the opposition politician for doing this.

Chong was to second the motion by Wong, but the latter said he did not mind since the subject was essentially the same.

He said with the power structure and abundant resources that nature has blessed Sarawak with, the perception of the people is that Sarawak is far from being clean of corruption.

"When concessions (logging and plantation leases) can be given out at the whim and fancy of a minister, the people are entitled to ask what the terms and conditions for these concessions are, and whether there is any corruption," he added.

The opposition assemblyperson also quoted what former DAP Bandar Kuching MP Sim Kwang Yang wrote in his Malaysiakini column: "Ask any citizen with a healthy dose of cynicism and access to privileged information how many federal ministers, state mentri besars, state chief ministers, state executive councillors, state ministers in Sarawak and Sabah, or any elected representative for that matter, can be described as squeaky clean like a whistle, and you will hear the sneering grunt that deafens the ear."

Cut down red tapes

In his speech in support of the motion, Wong said the state government must cut down on bureaucratic red tapes in government departments and agencies because red tapes are primary grounds for breeding graft.

He said the state assembly should also pass laws to require state ministers, assistant ministers, elected representatives, political secretaries, councilors and heads of departments to declare their assets and those of their next of kin and for such declarations to be made public.

Wong suggested that the state assembly appoint a Select Committee to monitor the anti-corruption drive.

"The government must improve on the procedures for awarding contracts. Direct negotiation procedures for government tenders should be abolished. All contracts must be by public tender and based on merits," he said, adding that the government must restore clean governance, truly expressing the essential value of democracy and accountability.

The DAP MP said the prime minister's war against corruption was the centerpiece of his government.

"It jolted all Malaysians to rise to stop the rot. But the rot has not stopped. The momentum against corruption has almost stopped. The zeal and spirit have almost stopped.

"Why? Because Pak Lah (Abdullah) is alone. The popular belief is that he has abandoned the war against corruption.'The popular belief is that not a single BN component party thus far is seriously supporting his crusade against corruption," he said.

Wong also pointed out that when a forum on integrity was held in Sibu recently, not a single person from the BN leadership were present.

"Is Sarawak with our prime minister? Not by words only in this August House. Let that be recorded in the Hansard for future generations to read," he added.