MAKING a mountain out of a molehill, the opposition failed miserably when they tried to portray Menteri Besar Incorporated (MB Inc) as the biggest scandal in Perak.
It was a well-orchestrated plan, though, with the first salvo fired during a press conference a few days before Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir tabled the state budget for next year.
Perak DAP adviser Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham claimed that thousands of hectares of land worth billions of ringgit had been approved to MB Inc.
“... MB Inc can become Perak’s biggest scandal in history,” he was reported to have said.
As expected, the opposition assemblymen brought the matter into the state assembly and flashed placards against MB Inc after Zambry tabled the budget. But, quick response from MB Inc and the state government cleared the air.
By the time the state assembly sitting ended on Monday, the issue had fizzled out.
MB Inc chief executive officer Datuk Aminudin Hashim explained that the agency belonged to the state government and acted as the state’s strategic investor and interest holder in three core areas — sustainable mineral development, responsible property development and viable strategic industries. He also said MB Inc was not an entity owned by the Perak menteri besar, nor was it a political entity.
“It is not a new entity, it was set up in 1951 under the Menteri Besar Perak (Incorporation) Enactment 1951 and passed by the state assembly.”
Unknown to many, it has been dormant and was only reactivated in 2012.
Aminudin also denied that MB Inc had been given 4,046ha of land as alleged by Ngeh. The fact is MB Inc only has 890ha of land and went through the normal process to acquire them, such as paying the assessment and associated cost of ownership.
Since being reactivated, MB Inc has given out RM3 million through its corporate social responsibility projects to help build roads, community halls and pay tithes.
Zambry also hit out at the opposition for creating a negative perception of MB Inc, claiming that their antics were unbecoming of an elected representative.
In retrospect, it was not a surprise that the opposition had exploited the issue to divert the people’s attention from their internal problems, particularly on opposition leader Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin’s decision to leave Pas and join Parti Amanah Negara.
Ngeh, who is Sitiawan assemblyman, was also booted out of the state assembly for a day after he accused Speaker Datuk Seri S.K. Devamany of being biased. The commotion started when Ngeh accused the state government of stealing from the people by giving land to MB Inc.
Devamany reminded Ngeh that he had made a serious allegation, which prompted the backbenchers to demand him to retract his statement. Despite the commotion, Ngeh continued with his tirade and exceeded the 20-minute slot allotted to him.
It was rather unfortunate that the precious time was wasted to debate issues just for political mileage. The assemblymen should have instead focused on the RM1.088 billion budget for next year, which had a projected deficit of RM49.18 million.
To face the challenging economic situation, it would be helpful if they could give ideas and constructive criticism that could help the state government turn the deficit budget into a surplus or balanced one.
Instead, the opposition chose to be empty barrels that made the most noise and disrupt the august house with their fatuous accusations and trumped up charges.
The writer is NST’s Perak bureau chief