Sarawak Housing Minister Abang Johari Tun Openg's sharp rebuke to staff of his ministry over leakage of building plans for land in Bako has aroused the curiosity of Sarawak DAP Secretary Chong Chieng Jen.

It raised more questions than answers, said Chong who is the Kota Sentosa Assemblyman.

"Why was he so upset and so secretive that there is a plan unless he has a hidden agenda?" asked Chong, who is also the MP for Bandar Kuching.

NONE "I think Abang Johari should not be looking for the person who leaked the building plans, as government planning should be transparent and made public at all times."

The DAP leader was commenting on a statement made by the minister who took to task staff of his ministry over the leakage of building plans of the upcoming housing projects in Bako to the people.

Johari ( left ) demanded that such actions must stop as it could be manipulated by the people, pointing out that he was surprised when during a press conference recently, there were people producing the plans for housing projects in Bako and Muara Tebas.

"I don't know whether such action is done by our housing development corporation staff or the consultants, but this is a reminder that such action should stop because it may mislead the public," he said.

Slamming the minister, Chong said: "I know why he was so upset. It is because the government has a hidden agenda.

"Their cronies are eyeing the land as the government has already acquired some 2000 to 3000ha of the land with the intention ultimately to be alienated to the cronies.

"The hidden agenda is to enrich their cronies," Chong alleged, pointing out that if the plans were kept so secretive how were private companies going to participate.

Compensation for land

The problem regarding the Bako land came to light in September 2010 when government sent notices to land owners who are mostly Chinese to attend meetings to discuss compensation for their land.

The compensation ranged from RM40,000 to RM80,000 per acre.

The angry landowners grouped themselves together and formed a committee to fight their case as they were unhappy not only with the ‘unfair compensation' of their land, but there was also no clear indication how the government would use the land.

They accused the state government of committing ‘daylight robbery' and approached DAP for assistance as Sarawak United People's Party wanted them to accept the compensation.

chong chieng jen interview 141108 01 Led by Chong ( left ), the DAP team gave legal advice to the landowners who had already started off by signing a petition to the chief minister and copied it to all the 71 state elected representatives.

With the state election approaching nearer, DAP took advantage of the situation and made it a major political issue against SUPP for the 2011 state election.

So effective was their campaign that SUPP lost all the five state seats in Kuching to the Opposition.

DAP is certain to use the issue again against SUPP in the coming general election in at least in the parliamentary seats of Bandar Kuching and Stampin.

Currently Bandar Kuching is in the hands of DAP, while Stampin is held by SUPP.