LABUAN MP SAYS NO LONGER A BANKRUPT

LABUAN : Labuan Member of Parliament Datuk Haji Yussof Haji Mahal said he has been cleared of bankruptcy over a RM16 million loan owed to the Sabah Development Bank (SDB).

This means the way is clear for his possible defending the seat in the coming election. He said he had been issued with a letter dated 12.12.12 by the Department of Insolvency declaring him as no longer a bankrupt.

"The letter stated clearly that Yussof bin Mahal is longer a bankrupt under Section 38 (1) (C) Bankruptcy Act 1967," he said, in a statement.

Yussof had appealed to the Sabah and Sarawak High Court to have his bankruptcy order set aside and the case was supposed to have been heard last November but there was no further application.

Meanwhile, Yussof said Labuan Federal Territory is moving towards developed status in tandem with national development albeit at a slow pace, contrary to opposition claims and certain quarters.

He rebuffed allegations that many ongoing development projects have failed or were becoming "white elephants". "We are in the ruling government and we know the projects whether or not on schedule, behind schedule or ahead of schedule, these projects are for the people and the island as a whole," he said.

He cited the RM3 billion oil and gas project under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) whose completion was reported to be still uncertain due to certain circumstances.

"The RM3 billion projects will proceed, but it is a matter of technical issues to be tackled among investors and the landlord," he said.

The Federal Territory and Urban Wellbeing Ministry and Labuan Corporation are only functioning as facilitators for the project.

The RM37 halal distribution hub project was also touted as a white elephant project. "The project is ongoing, and of course we have yet to see the results until it is fully completed.

"We should not jump into conclusion as we have not seen the long term plan of the project," he said. Likewise, Yussof lashed out at certain quarters' claims that carelessness could be the cause of MISC vessels being destroyed by the fire which cost five lives recently.

"There had been speculation it could be due to lightning.

We cannot simply assume the cause of the incident was due to carelessness.

"This is what had happened to the Wawasan Perdana ro-ro ferry burnt recently. Though no one hurt, it was beyond our control.

We can assume, it could be carelessness, but the Labuan Ferry Corporation Sdn Bhd as the operator, could not confirm it was his men who were careless. No one would like to have such incident to happen, as it would only bring losses to us," he said.

"We, in the government always give priority to safety of the people and its surroundings. Despite the fact the industries such as oil and gas is paramount to the island," he said.

On the 50 per cent discount given to passengers and vehicles owners plying Labuan-Sabah and Sarawak, he said, it was a gift to consumers who had been hit by the rising goods prices due to the double transportation charges.

"We raised the issue in parliament and finally the Prime Minister listened to our grievances and a 50 per cent discount to consumers on the island," he said.

"The issues that are challenging my credibility as a leader includes the escalating goods prices due to transportation charges which had been resolved with the 50 per cent discount, the Islamic Religious Secondary School which had started its enrolment, additional ferry operators also started its operation during hari raya last year.

"I thank the village heads and people of Labuan who had been with me ever since the issues cropped up," he said. (DE)