KUCHING: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Engkilili Branch’s Chairman, Kua Jack Seng, dismissed the Democratic Action Party’s (DAP’s) “seven questions” on the ongoing fuel subsidy smuggling probe, arguing that the concerns were already being addressed by enforcement agencies.
Kua, who is also a political secretary to the Premier of Sarawak, said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was actively investigating, arresting syndicates, and exposing cartels, and therefore it was premature to demand specific details.
On the question of which state-owned company was implicated, Kua said such information would only be revealed through due process.
“Investigations have SOPs. DAP prefers trial by Facebook instead of due process,” he said in a press statement today.
Responding to claims that syndicates colluded with authorities, Kua countered that DAP should look to its federal allies, who oversaw agencies such as Customs, the Finance Ministry, and Domestic Trade, wherein smuggling was rampant.
He added that mechanisms to detect wrongdoing were already in place, pointing to the arrests and seizures made by MACC as proof that enforcement was working.
On the officers involved in the alleged approvals, Kua stressed that this was precisely why investigations were ongoing.
“DAP wants names and drama before court proceedings. Next time, why not demand the case file too?” he remarked.
As for financial losses, Kua said DAP should also account for subsidy cuts approved during its 22 months in the federal government.
On recoveries, he noted that GPS was committed to retrieving more than what had been achieved under previous federal administrations.
Touching on changes to standard operating procedures (SOPs), Kua assured that improvements were already underway.
“Enforcement is happening, MACC is working, and GPS is strengthening checks.
“Sarawakians deserve leaders who solve problems, not politicians who recycle the same tired template for every scandal, hoping it sticks,” he said.
