State Assemblyman for Batu Kitang, Lo Khere Chiang blasts DAP

suppadmin | August 11, 2022

State Assemblyman for Batu Kitang, Lo Khere Chiang expressed his shock and anger to learn that the former Federal Minister of Finance Lim Guan Eng rejected, without assigning any reason whatsoever, an investment tax allowance application by Sarawak Energy’s subsidiary Baleh Hydro Power Generation Sdn Bhd in 2019 and give a thumb up to Baleh hydro insistence to file a judicial review .

“What irks me is that why did Sarawak DAP not come to our defence and they had miserably failed to protect the interest of Sarawakians. They even failed to speak up for Sarawakians on this matter even though there is a need to reiterate the huge savings with the decision of this Court. The court has effectively allowed Baleh Hydro to claim the investment tax allowance of 100 percent of the qualifying capital expenditure incurred between 2018 to 2027 of which this savings of RM 10.9 billion tax allowance will undoubtedly be put to good use by our GPS government. We still have so much to do in Sarawak, we need to upgrade our infrastructure, improve our schools condition and upgrade the lives of the people especially those in the rural areas. There are so many things the GPS government wants to do to uplift the lives of the Sarawakians. But instead, here, we have the DAP trying to ‘rob’ us the chance of having this RM10.9 billion tax allowance. This is indeed cruel and unacceptable,” he said.

Fortunately, Lo added that, Baleh Hydro Power disclosed that although the company had met all the required conditions for such tax incentive, the former Federal Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng thought otherwise and rejected the application without giving any reason, thus the High Court threw out MOF ‘s argument.

From what he gathered, many Sarawakians were unaware of this incident until they were made aware of it. Many have expressed their dissatisfaction of such mistreatment from the previous PH government and DAP Minister of Finance.

“We need to remind ourselves that the Sarawak GPS Government is very committed and focused to develop Sarawak further with the construction of hydroelectric power plant in Kapit which is part of the Rural Electrification scheme initiative to speed up the government’s electrification plan, enabling Sarawak’s digital economy agenda to reach rural communities to help realize Sarawak’s vision to become a high income nation by 2030.

Lo reminded Sarawakians that in June 2019, Lim Guan Eng who was MOF said Sarawak will go bankrupt within three years. This is indeed a degrading statement and three years have long gone. Despite covid 19 affecting us, Sarawak is not bankrupt but our income revenues continue to increase. He said Lim owes Sarawak an apology.

“Sarawakians are not stupid as what they presumed us to be. We must continue to stick together under GPS to better take care of ourselves and to continue to wrestle our rights and privileges back,” he added.