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Malaysiakini.com
Nov 22, 2006
Steven Gan

The Sarawak government’s proposed Regional Corridors Development Authorities (RCDAs) will become a “super authority” with far-reaching and adverse consequences for the people, according to an opposition politician. 

Parti Keadilan Rakyat assemblyperson Dominique Ng, debating the Regional Corridors Development Authorities Bill in the Sarawak assembly today, said RCDAs would serve to bring back to life “a medieval and feudal practice”.

“Instead of leap-frogging into the future, we are likely to be (leaping) back into the medieval past,” said Ng (PKR-Padungan), as he took on policies of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government of Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.

He was playing on the word ‘leapfrog’, earlier used by Peter Nansien (BN-Tasik Biru) in praising the government’s move to set up the RCDAs as a means of expediting economic and social development.

Illustrating the likely impact of such a move on Sarawakians, Ng said: ‘In the medieval past, it was commonplace for the ruler to demarcate land (including conquered lands) into regions and appointing lords, barons and baronesses to rule, control and own these regions.

“The allegiance of the noblemen lay only with the ruler. For so long as they continued to feed the ruler with a portion of their loot and bounty, they could even get away with murder. They would have the ruler’s support and protection to exploit and enjoy the resources and wealth of their regions.

“Such an arrangement is also axiomatic of an oppressive and totalitarian monarchy, supposedly of a bygone era and which should be confined to human history. The people have revolted, they have thrown out the lords, they have ousted totalitarian rulers.”

Ng pointed out that the state election had been held barely six months ago and that the government had declared it has since heard the people’s voices loud and clear, after nine opposition candidates - the largest number since the 1980s - were elected.

“They may have heard, but is it still ringing in their ears? Have they forgotten already? Have they learned to be wiser? The RCDA Bill 2006 shows that the BN government is shutting its eyes and closing its ears to the wishes of Sarawakians,” he said.

‘The RCDA will in effect restore the bad old days. Feudal lords will now be called ...general managers and the king will be known as the chief minister.”

Inadequate protection

He said that, under the proposed provisions, the minister “can divide Sarawak into regions or areas called Regional Development Corridors (RDCs)” with infinite boundaries.

The RDC may be owned, operated and managed by a body corporate appointed to be the RCDA with wide ranging and indefinite powers.

“The RCDA may have such or all the powers, functions and duties conferred upon a local authority under the Local Authorities Ordinance 1996 … and such powers and functions as may be conferred upon it by any other written law,” Ng said, citing the Bill.

‘Why not just vest such powers and functions with the local authorities? Isn’t there much duplication here?’

He said RCDAs could well become an alternative and more powerful form of local government than any local council.

There is already widespread concern among many people over the immense power in the hands of the (state) minister and that this could be easily abused for the financial benefit of a handful of the BN elite, he said.

“It seems that the government is finding it too slow to vest its cronies with businesses, land and concessions through existing regulations and bodies like the Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA),” he claimed.

There is also no provision in the draft law to protect the public interest or for disclosure of interest, as is required under the LCDA Ordinance.

“It will be legal for the RCDAs to direct that the projects be given to people close to authority or the chief minister. Make no mistake about the impact of this Bill. We are talking about economic dominance here.”

Ng put on record his strong objections against RCDAs, although he conceded that the Bill was likely to be passed because of the BN majority in the state assembly.
    
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