He said some of the ministers were still stranded in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore because most of the air services by the Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines and other foreign airlines have been badly affected by the haze.
In the public interest, especially to ensure public confidence, the Sarawak State Government should make public a full list of the ministers and assistant ministers "stranded" outside the Sarawak state, explaining when and why they left Sarawak.
The Sarawak State Government should explain why the Sarawak Chief Minister, Tan Sri Taib Mahmud is not in the state.
Last Friday, Taib Mahmud was in Kuching when the state of emergency arising from the haze was declared, and in a press conference the same morning, the Chief Minister said all construction and quarry activities would have to stop until the emergency order had been lifted � a statement which was never observed during the last six days of the emergency in the state.
Sarawakians are entitled to know when Taib Mahmud left the state, when most of the times the airports in the state were closed, and the why, how and with whom he left the state, and when he would return to provide leadership and guidance to the people of Sarawak who are facing their worst crisis in history. Also, why his departure from Sarawak had been kept a secret.
If Taib Mahmud could make use of a �window� during the worsening haze crisis to leave Sarawak, why were the Sarawak state and assistant ministers "stranded" outside Sarawak unable to make use of such a �window� to rush back to Sarawak to be with the people?
All Sarawak State Ministers and assistant ministers who are in Sarawak should appear on television to convince the people of their presence in the state.
(24/9/97)