DAP's anti-high electricity tariff drive jitters SEB
Dukau PapauPublished: Apr 21, 2014 6:46 AM | Updated: Apr 21, 2014 10:19 AM
Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) is jittery about the support given to Sarawak DAP’s fairer electricity policy signature campaign which, among others calls for the reduction of electricity tariff by 30 percent.
This is so much so that SEB is using half-truths and scare tactics to brainwash its employees to oppose the campaign, Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen said today.
Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) is jittery over the support given to Sarawak DAP’s fairer electricity policy signature campaign which, among others calls for the reduction of electricity tariff by 30 percent.
This is so much so that SEB is using half-truths and scare tactics to brainwash its employees to oppose the campaign, Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen said today.
“It has come to my knowledge that the top management of the SEB has, in the past week, distributed booklets to its employees propagating against the DAP signature campaign,” Chong said.
He said the SEB booklet started with some allegation against the signature campaign and a threat that many of SEB’s employees, numbering some 4,000 proud Sarawakians, may lose their jobs if the tariff is slashed.
'Most irresponsible statement'
“This is the most irresponsible statement of the top management of SEB. It is very typical of the BN’s political propaganda of scare tactics and avoiding the presentation of any accounting figure to support its allegations.
“The reluctance of SEB to reveal its accounts is simple. It is because the accounts will prove our claims,” Chong, who is the MP for Bandar Kuching and Kota Sentosa assemblyperson, said.
“The mere fact that SEB’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Syarikat Sesco Bhd, has made a whooping RM266.6 million pre-tax profit in 2012 (its latest reported statement of accounts) will refute SEB’s allegation that slashing the tariff will make many lose their jobs.
“If DAP succeeds in the signature campaign, the only persons who will lose their jobs will be SEB’s chief executive officer, the Norwegian Torstein Dale Sjotveit (right), who receives an annual salary cum allowances of more than RM4.5 million a year, and possibly the other expatriates whose salary cum allowances are approximately RM1 million per year per person.
“At present, among the 4,000 SEB employees, there are six expatriates but the six are paid approximately RM10 million a year.
“While six out of 4,000 constitutes a mere 0.15 percent of the SEB workforce, the combined salaries cum allowances of these six constitute to more than seven percent of the total salary paid to all the 4000 SEB employees annually.
“With RM10 million a year, we can employ 100 Sarawakians at an annual salary of RM100,000 each. Surely, Sarawakians have more talent than what the six expatriates can offer,” Chong said.
He added: “More importantly, while the BN government is talking about Sarawak for Sarawakians, it is allowing these expatriates to brainwash and indoctrinate Sarawakians about the ‘White Supremacy’ colonialism mentality...
“On the issue of financial sustainability of SEB, in the event that the electricity tariff is reduced by 30 percent, I have made it clear that I am prepared to a public debate with the ministers concerned, or the CEO of the SEB.”
The signature campaign has neared its target of 100,000 signatures by the end of the month and the memorandum is to be presented at the meeting of state legislative assembly next month.
This is so much so that SEB is using half-truths and scare tactics to brainwash its employees to oppose the campaign, Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen said today.“It has come to my knowledge that the top management of the SEB has, in the past week, distributed booklets to its employees propagating against the DAP signature campaign,” Chong said.
He said the SEB booklet started with some allegation against the signature campaign and a threat that many of SEB’s employees, numbering some 4,000 proud Sarawakians, may lose their jobs if the tariff is slashed.
'Most irresponsible statement'
“This is the most irresponsible statement of the top management of SEB. It is very typical of the BN’s political propaganda of scare tactics and avoiding the presentation of any accounting figure to support its allegations.
“The reluctance of SEB to reveal its accounts is simple. It is because the accounts will prove our claims,” Chong, who is the MP for Bandar Kuching and Kota Sentosa assemblyperson, said.
“The mere fact that SEB’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Syarikat Sesco Bhd, has made a whooping RM266.6 million pre-tax profit in 2012 (its latest reported statement of accounts) will refute SEB’s allegation that slashing the tariff will make many lose their jobs.
“If DAP succeeds in the signature campaign, the only persons who will lose their jobs will be SEB’s chief executive officer, the Norwegian Torstein Dale Sjotveit (right), who receives an annual salary cum allowances of more than RM4.5 million a year, and possibly the other expatriates whose salary cum allowances are approximately RM1 million per year per person.
“At present, among the 4,000 SEB employees, there are six expatriates but the six are paid approximately RM10 million a year.
“While six out of 4,000 constitutes a mere 0.15 percent of the SEB workforce, the combined salaries cum allowances of these six constitute to more than seven percent of the total salary paid to all the 4000 SEB employees annually.
“With RM10 million a year, we can employ 100 Sarawakians at an annual salary of RM100,000 each. Surely, Sarawakians have more talent than what the six expatriates can offer,” Chong said.
He added: “More importantly, while the BN government is talking about Sarawak for Sarawakians, it is allowing these expatriates to brainwash and indoctrinate Sarawakians about the ‘White Supremacy’ colonialism mentality...
“On the issue of financial sustainability of SEB, in the event that the electricity tariff is reduced by 30 percent, I have made it clear that I am prepared to a public debate with the ministers concerned, or the CEO of the SEB.”
The signature campaign has neared its target of 100,000 signatures by the end of the month and the memorandum is to be presented at the meeting of state legislative assembly next month.
View Comments0