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DAP calls for immediate publication of the investigation report into the five-state four-hour power blackout on Sept. 1 without having to wait for study by TNB Directors or the government


Media Conference Statement
- after the
opening of the Perak DAP State Convention 2003
by Lim Kit Siang

(IpohSunday): I had arrived in Ipoh on the morning of Sept. 1, 2003   when Perak, together with four other states,  Penang, Kedah, Perlis and Kelantan were hit by a four-hour   power outage. 

In yesterday’s press, Tenaga Nasional Bhd chairman Datuk Dr. Awang Adek Hussin said that investigations into the five-state blackout on Sept. 1 had been completed and the report is being examined by an independent board of directors appointed by Tenaga Nasional.

 

He said the full report was expected to be handed to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad next week after the board of directors had completed its study.

 

Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has often lamented about the “First World Infrastructure, Third World Mentality” which is a serious impediment to Malaysia reaching greater heights of national and human development.

 

The time has come for all Malaysians, whether individuals, corporations or government agencies to adopt the culture  of “First World Infrastructure, First World Mentality”, changing  outmoded  mindsets and methods  of operation which do not encourage openness, accountability, creativity and excellence.

 

In countries with “First World Infrastructure, First World Mentality”, reports into national mishaps and disasters are immediately made public simultaneously they are handed to the relevant authorities for study, including to the various government ministries concerned.

 

Why should’nt the investigation report into the five-state four-power power blackout on Sept. 1 be immediately made public, while the TNB board of directors takes its time to study it?  Why shouldn’t the report be immediately tabled in Parliament tomorrow, while the Cabinet and the Ministry of Energy, Communications and Multi-media take their time to study it? Unless there are notions to reserve the right to suppress or edit the investigation report?

 

DAP had called on the TNB to compensate all the consumers in the five states affected by the power outage.  Is TNB prepared to accept this corporate responsibility in keeping with the new motto of “First World Infrastructure, First World Mentality”?

(28/9/2003)


* Lim Kit Siang, DAP National Chairman