Datuk Henry Sum Agong
LAWAS: The Sarawak Budget 2019 announced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Abang Openg on Monday is transparent, and meets the need of the people especially in the rural areas, says Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong.
He said the budget was very much welcomed by Sarawakians, especially northern Sarawakians who still need basic facilities such as roads, and water and electricity supplies.
“The budget is the government’s initiative in prioritising the well-being of the people to move into a developed status by 2030.
“The Sarawak government has laid the right foundation to ensure that its development efforts can be systemically mobilised,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
Out of the RM11.91 billion allocated under the budget, the biggest in Sarawak’s history, RM9.07 is put aside for development, and RM2.84 billion for operating expenditure.
The federal budget which was tabled in parliament last Friday, only allocated RM4.35 billion to Sarawak.
“The allocation for Sarawak is very unrealistic and not transparent.
“The RM4.3 billion allocated to Sarawak is not specific. It is only enough for the Pan Borneo project and does not include federal-funded projects like repairing of dilapidated schools and construction of roads,” he said.
As such, he said it’s necessary for the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government to continue channeling bigger allocation to Sarawak to implement projects badly needed by the people.
Compared to the national budget, the Sarawak budget is very specific and people-oriented, focusing on development in rural areas.
“Sarawak has effectively and systematically managed its finance and economy although a bigger portion of its revenue from oil and gas is siphoned by the federal government to develop others states in Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.