Sabah reps clash over steel mega project controversy
The clash was sparked by the ongoing controversy surrounding a RM31bil steel investment project by Esteel Enterprise Sabah Sdn Bhd.
During Question Time, Calvin Chong (Warisan-Elopura) suddenly interjected in Hakka, repeatedly asking 'Ngai cho coi lai hang?' ('Where did I go wrong?'), after state Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe (DAP-Luyang) accused him of failing to submit a formal question about the project to the assembly.
Phoong, the Sabah DAP chairman, accused Chong of not submitting a formal question to the assembly, but instead had chosen to 'make noise' outside the House.
The heated exchange over the Esteel Enterprise project in Sipitang's Oil and Gas Industrial Park reflected escalating political tensions as the state assembly nears the end of its five-year term on Nov 11.
Chong lodged a police report on the project last month, alleging failure in the implementation of the project.
Despite repeated calls by Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim Yahya for both assemblymen to sit down, the shouting match continued until he moved on to the next question.
The Sabah assembly also passed a whopping RM1.86bil in additional funding to address longstanding issues related to water supply and road infrastructure under the 2025 Supplementary Supply Bill tabled by Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
Masidi said the extra money of RM523.5mil was for solving the state's persistent water and road problems while the remaining RM600mil was for statutory fund contributions, RM204mil for administrative expenses, RM195mil for operational needs and RM84mil for domestic grants.
In winding up the debates, Masidi said that all allocations under the Supplementary Bill were accounted for, and would benefit the people and help finance infrastructure development plans.
State Opposition leader Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Senallang) questioned the need for such a high supplementary budget as the state had already approved RM6.7bil for Sabah Budget 2025.
He said that Sabah's total spending was almost RM8bil this year, yet there had been little tangible returns for the rakyat.
'We are spending billions but how much revenue are we actually generating?
'With this scale of spending, I believe Sabah is now facing a serious deficit,' he said when debating the Supplementary Bill.
'We will do a full audit to find out where the money was used,' he added.
Mohd Shafie added that every sen of public funds spent must see measurable outcomes, such as job creation and income generation or directly solve issues affecting people's daily lives, particularly the persistent water and electricity problems in rural areas.
'The people don't want luxury, they just want basic necessities like water to drink and shower with, and use the toilet,' he said.
The assembly sitting continues today.
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Parti Warisan Pekan Sandakan chief Stanley Tan Vui Chung (right) defended Elopura assemblyman Calvin Chong (centre) following a heated exchange in the Sabah State Assembly over the Esteel project. KOTA KINABALU: Elopura assemblyman's brief use of Hakka during a heated exchange in the Sabah State Assembly did not contain any harmful or rude language and should not be seen as a problem, says Parti Warisan's Pekan Sandakan branch chief. Stanley Tan Vui Chung said the lawmaker, Calvin Chong, was simply expressing frustration over the delayed progress of the RM31bil Esteel Sabah project and that the use of dialects in the House was not uncommon given Sabah's multicultural context. 'In Sabah, many elected reps speak in localised Malay mixed with native dialects. What Calvin said in Hakka was not offensive or vulgar in any way,' Tan said in a statement on Tuesday (July 8). 'If it were truly inappropriate, the Speaker would have issued a warning or ordered him out. But instead, both parties were only asked to calm down,' he added. The confrontation took place on Monday (July 7) when Chong questioned why there was still no visible activity at the Esteel steel plant site in Sipitang, despite repeated announcements that it would be a major catalyst for Sabah's industrial growth. Chong also sought clarification on the project's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) status, land tenure, and the absence of Sabahan directors on the company's board — and questioned potential overlaps with mineral exploration companies. Phoong, however, defended the project's progress, citing signed lease agreements, a RM35mil deposit, a federal manufacturing licence, and a secured gas supply from Petronas and Sabah Energy Corporation. He also said a jetty contract had been awarded to China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). However, tensions escalated when Phoong criticised Chong for going to the media and lodging a police report instead of formally raising the matter in the House. Phoong had also lodged a police report against Chong. Tan clarified that Chong had, in fact, prepared documents to speak on the matter in the assembly, but was preemptively accused before getting the opportunity to do so. 'Calvin was speaking up on behalf of the people. That is his duty. Unfortunately, instead of being heard, he was accused of politicising the issue,' he said. Tan also pointed out that heavy machinery was only seen arriving at the project site about two weeks after Chong filed his police report, and that media coverage on the project's progress only surfaced in recent days. 'Why the delay? Why only move after being pressured? These are legitimate questions,' he said, adding that asking for transparency does not mean being anti-development. The Esteel project, first announced at RM19.6bil, has since been revised to RM31bil to include downstream facilities and a deepwater jetty. The government maintains that construction is ongoing in phases.
