Bukit Assek assemblyman Chieng Jin Ek has expressed his deep concern over the escalating number of scams and security issues plaguing Sarawak.
He quoted Bernama as reporting that the Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata revealed 240 cases with losses totalling RM7,811,623.87 in the first month of 2024, and there were 2,958 cases with losses amounting to RM117,064,580.71 throughout 2023.
“As for the Sibu district, 615 commercial crime cases were recorded in 2023 compared to 44 cases in 2022,” he said when debating on the motion of appreciation for the Head of State’s address during the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.
In addition to scams, Chieng stated that there has been a recent surge in theft incidents in Sibu, including attempted burglaries by masked thieves.
“Apart from raising public awareness and implementing theft-preventing measures, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) should also intensify patrols and adopt proactive measures to combat crime, apprehend offenders, and guarantee public safety and security,” he said.
Chieng urges the Federal government and PDRM to pay more attention to this issue and take necessary and appropriate actions to protect the public, as some reported cases involve suspected law enforcement personnel.
On another note, Cheng stated that he received a petition letter from the Sibu Shipyards Association regarding the recent implementation of a revised land tax in 2023.
“Land taxes have skyrocketed, impacting businesses and enterprises severely, especially the shipbuilding industry in Sibu, and this contradicts the Sarawak Land and Survey Department’s assurance that the land tax increases would not exceed 100 per cent
“In a 6,313-square-metre industrial land at Rantau Panjang, the land tax has surged from RM150 to RM2,715, marking a staggering 1,710 per cent increase, while on an 8,260-square-metre shipbuilding industrial land at Sungai Bidut, the land tax has risen from RM722 to RM2,064, reflecting a 186 per cent increase,” he stated expressing his concern.
Furthermore, Chieng urged the government to conduct a comprehensive review of the underlying causes of the issue and take appropriate measures to provide reasonable tax increases to avoid further economic burden.
