KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is quite disappointed with Budget 2019, tabled by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng in Parliament on Friday.
In this regard, he says while he appreciates the RM4.346 billion allocation for Sarawak, he views the budget as being ‘very general’ – one that does not mention any specific project and development of schools in the rural areas.
“There’s no mention about schools (in the national budget), and there’s no mention about specific projects like water and electricity supply.
“Of course, I’m generally disappointed, despite ‘somebody’ telling us about (us) getting 30 per cent,” Abang Johari told reporters yesterday after officiating at the opening of Sarawak-level ‘Women’s Day 2018’ event at the Penview Convention Centre (PCC) in Demak near here yesterday.
The chief minister also said he was expecting allocation for repair works on dilapidated schools in Sarawak to be mentioned in the budget, but it was not.
“Nothing was mentioned. I’ve also written to (Lim) Guan Eng about the state offering RM1 billion loan, but until now there is no response, no reply,” he pointed out.
On the RM4.346 allocation, Abang Johari assumed that it would be more towards the construction of Pan Borneo Highway, which must be carried out.