As a Sarawakian, I have heard a lot about the projects of 1st Silicon Sdn Bhd and Borneo Pulp and Paper Sdn Bhd (BPP) and would like to have some information on them in order to have a correct and clearer picture of the controversial issues surrounding them.

Please let me have answers to the following:

  • What feasibility studies have been carried out on their projects? If consultants have been engaged for the projects, who were they and how much were they paid? I would like to have copies of the feasibility studies, including forecasts and budgets. If they are not available to the public, please advise why not and where I can view them.

  • Who eventually decided for the projects to go ahead? Were there minutes of the various meetings held? Where are the minutes of the meetings kept?

  • How much has the Sarawak state government invested in the projects of the two companies? Did the state government take out any loans and if so, how much and from which financial institution? How much interest has the government paid out so far and how much of the loans are still outstanding ? What are the annual interests now and when will the loans be completely repaid? Where will the state get the money to repay these loans?

  • Who are the joint venture (JV) partners in these projects and how much have they invested?

  • How much profits or losses did the state make on the projects? Where are the income and expenditure statements of the ventures? Who are the auditors?

  • What is the state government going to do with these two companies in the future? For example, are there plans to keep them running or sell them off?

I think the Sarawak state government has a duty to make public all the facts concerning these to companies as the money used for their projects comes from the people. The state government has to be made accountable for these big projects which it has invested in.