PRESS
STATEMENT
In
Kota Kinabalu, 3 January 1998
HENRYNUS
QUESTIONS THE PURCHASE OF NBT SHARES
KOTA
KINABALU - PBS Kinabalu Member of Parliament, Henrynus Amin,
in a statement today slammed AKAR Bersatu Youth for criticizing
Sabah UMNO Youth Chief, Jema Khan, on the alleged RM60 million losses
by the government-owned syarikat Warisan Harta Sdn Bhd following
its purchase of 3 million NBT shares at RM31.30 per share in December
last year.
The
Sabah UMNO Youth Chief who on Monday questioned the purchase of
NBT shares and the subsequently losses by the state government said
he will not be a party to the NBT deal and demanded full explanation
from the Sabah Chief Minister, Datuk Yong Teck Lee, who is also
the Chairman of syarikat Warisan Harta Sdn Bhd.
He
said 4.4 and 1.8 million NBT shares were traded on 23 and 24 December
respectively last year at RM31.50 per share.
The
NBT share price took a deep plunge almost immediately after the
share transaction and as of today remains at rock bottom price of
RM4.80 per share.
The
state government’s alleged losses in the NBT deal first surfaced
following the exposure by PBS Vice President, Dr Yee Moh Chai who
on Saturday alleged that 3 million shares bought by Warisan Harta
in NBT has incurred a loss of at least RM60 million in just three
days of trading.
Henrynus
said the rakyat of Sabah who are the stake holders of the amount
of money lost are entitled to know who are responsible for this
very unprudent decision especially at a time when liquidity and
the solvency of the state government are most critical.
According
to Henrynus, certain sources are quoting a much higher figure at
over RM100 million in losses but the Chief Minister is still avoiding
the issue or at best keeping silent despite his avowed transparency
when taking over the helm of government.
Henrynus
said even ordinary man in the street will not gamble with his money
due to the economic downturn and financial instability especially
now when the banks and other financial institutions are very edgy
in giving loans to the public.
"The
fact that the Chief Minister is avoiding the issue, even threatening
to sue for defamation, gives rise to a great deal of suspicion and
the public is entitled to a valid explanation," he said.
"Perhaps,
the ACA and the police would be interested to know," he added.
Henrynus
who is also the PBS Information Chief applauded move by Dr Yee Moh
Chai to make a police report and also the Anti Corruption Agency
to enable these departments to initiate criminal investigation.
Henrynus
expressed regret that the Barisan Nasional leadership found it convenient
to gamble away public money at a time that the state is starved
of funds for development.
Henrynus
suspected that disagreement over the NBT deal should explain the
sudden announcement by the Minister of Finance, Datuk Abdul Ghafur
Salleh, to resign as Finance Minister last month.
Henrynus
also expressed regret that the state should loose such a big sum
of money when there is an ongoing nation-wide austerity drive involving
salary cuts for Ministers and top civil servants to address the
current economic crisis afflicting the whole country.
Henrynus
said the present Sabah Barisan Nasional government seem oblivious
to the sufferings of the people and continue to make empty promises
and now more financial blunders.
"The
people are already burdened by the sharp depreciation of the ringgit
and they now have to pay more for essential foodstuff and other
necessities in life, yet the Chief Minister is telling every body
everything is alright," he said.
He
said the fact that the state government may have lost more than
RM100 million in the NBT deal, the entire state Barisan Nasional
cabinet should be held responsibe.
"In
fact, they should just resign enblock or dissolve the state assembly
to pave for an early election," he said.
Henrynus
contended that there are now enough scandals to warrant a thorough
investigations by the police and the ACA in the affairs of the present
Barisan Nasional state government.
"After
all, Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan, was subjected to a lenghty trial
in 1992 and 1993 for approving a mere RM1.2 million Tambunan shophouse
project which is now locally owned and fully utilized," he said.
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