KOTA KINABALU: A Sabah opposition assemblyman lapsed into Hakka during a heated argument with state Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe during Monday's (July 7) legislative assembly sitting.
Calvin Chong (Warisan-Elopura) repeatedly asked what he had done wrong after Phoong accused him of not submitting a formal question to the assembly but resorting to press statements and police reports.
"Ngai cho coi lai hang (where did I do wrong)?" he asked several times.
During their back-and-forth, Chong asked why he was wrong to question the matter as an assemblyman, while Phoon said a formal question should have been submitted instead of "making noise outside".
The exchange was sparked during question time when Phoong was giving his reply on the Esteel investment development, as well as to queries about why the investment capital had increased.
Chong had lodged a police report on the project last month, alleging failure in the implementation of a RM31bil steel manufacturing and processing project by Esteel Enterprise Sabah Sdn Bhd in the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (Sogip).
In his report filed in Sandakan, Chong claimed that his inspection of the site with fellow assemblyman Justin Wong (Warisan-Sri Tanjong) on June 10 found no visible construction activity.
Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim Yahya then asked both assemblymen to calm down, but was ignored until he ordered that they proceed to the next question.
Earlier, in giving updates on the Esteel project to Datuk Jannie Lasimbang (PH-Kapayan), Phoong said its Federal Manufacturing Licence (FML) was received at the end of January.
“In February, Esteel sealed a natural gas supply agreement with the Sabah Energy Corporation and Petronas, conducted a contractor bidding tender process in March and April, and sealed the Phase 1 Jetty construction contract with a Chinese company on May 30,” he said.
Other matters, such as approval for the green steel manufacturing construction development plan, environmental impact assessment (EIA) report approval and earthworks plan, among others, were subsequently completed, he added.
Phoong also said that the physical development of the project would begin either this month or in August.
Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Senallang) then asked how mega investors have the confidence to invest in multi-billion-ringgit projects in Sabah when stable infrastructure such as roads, water and electricity supply, as well as sufficient manpower, are lacking.
He also asked why domestic investors were not given priority in these projects, with more opportunities seen to be given to foreign investors instead.
Phoong said it is the state’s policy to accept and welcome investors from abroad while also making sure that local investors have the same opportunity to be part of any projects as long as they are capable and qualified.
