Chong says happy with another Mazu, but...

Kota Kinabalu: Former Chief Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat said he is happy at the prospects of Kudat getting a second Mazu statue besides the one initiated by him that was almost completed when stopped and whose continued construction is now before the courts.

But he said the Chinese leaders entrusted with overseeing the construction of the statue would have much to explain to the people, especially why his project was not allowed to be completed.

"The more statues of any religion, Christian, Buddhist, Taoist that come up, the better for the country," he said Friday, pointing out that his project, in the event, would not be redundant.

"It's definitely not redundant. My project, God-willing will be up but as I said, the four Ministers would have extra work to do.

"Now they will have to explain why my approved project after one-and-a half years cannot be allowed to be completed."

His views came on the heels of an announcement Thursday that the State Government had approved an application by the Hainan Federation of Sabah and Labuan to erect an alternative Mazu statue in Kudat.

Chong, who is Chairman of the Kudat Thean Hou Charitable Foundation which initiated the original project, said he was happy to hear of the new development.

"I wish the four Chinese Ministers (Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, Datuk Raymond Tan, Datuk Peter Pang, and Datuk Edward Khoo) who have been entrusted to undertake the project, all the best.

"But this is of course initiated by one association whose President John (Lim Yu Sin) is Datuk Yee's Political Secretary, so that should make things easy.

"Having said that, I hope the Chinese Ministers will also try their best to explain to the people. A lot of my people, and also the devotees in Sabah want to know why my approved project was stopped when it was almost completed."

The project was at a stage where the 20-feet platform to place the 88-feet statue had already been completed and work on assembling the statue from the 408 pieces of crafted granite stones was already being mobilised when the approval was rescinded.

The granite pieces from China, which cost an equivalent RM1.5 million, are still at the 2.3-acre original site kept in 23 containers.

On his party colleague LDP Vice President Datuk Peter Pang being among the four Chinese leaders mentioned, he said he did not think Pang was involved.

"His name was only mentioned by (Resource Development and IT Minister) Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, who seems to be spearheading the project."

On the offer of RM2 million through Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, as compensation for his now stalled project, he said he did not blame them. "They are in West Malaysia. They don't know the real story. If they knew, I think they will know what to say rightly."

Nazri was quoted as saying the compensation included payment for the foundation work that has already been done. He also disclosed that Chong had been offered a choice of three locations to build the statue.

Last week Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who was on a visit to Sabah, had expressed hope the issue could be settled out of court.

"As I said, I appreciate the goodwill of Datuk Seri PM. I'm sure he meant well. The Prime Minister knows the whole background to this because I have met him before, when he was then the Deputy prime Minister. I hope to be able to meet him. In fact I have requested for an appointment," said Chong.

Chong, through the Thean Hou Charitable Foundation, has a case pending in the High Court against Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman and three others (former State Secretary Datuk K.Y. Mustafa, then Local Government and Housing Permanent Secretary Datuk Ujang Sulani and Kudat Town Board) pertaining to the approval revocation.

He is seeking among others, a declaration that the letter of approval issued by the Kudat Town Board on Feb 8, 2006 is valid and binding on all parties.

The defendants made a bid strike off the suit through an application in which they sought for the court to deem Chong's Foundation illegal, as it had not been registered with the Registrar of Societies. They also contended that Chong had no locus standi to file the action.

However, Judicial Commissioner Yew Jen Kie had on April 21 ruled that Chong did have the legal right.

She, however, reserved her opinion as to the status of the Foundation, "which can only be determined at the end of the day upon mature consideration of the evidence adduced during the trial."

The defendants managed to obtain a stay of on the ruling pending their appeal to the Court of Appeal to quash it.

dailyexpress