Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg
KOTA KINABALU: Federal allocations should be disbursed rationally based on the size of the states, said Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said Sarawak required more allocation to construct basic infrastructure due to the size of the state.
“If Sarawak was to develop 5G technology, we have to lay fibre optics throughout the state from Lawas to Kuching,” Abang Johari said during a joint press conference with Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal during a courtesy call to the latter here today.
In comparison, Abang Johari said Selangor and Malacca was only the size of Kuching.
He said the Sarawak government also had to allocate its own funds to construct rural roads and develop basic infrastructure to meet the needs of its people.
Hence, he pointed out that the federal government should be rational in allocating funds to the state.
Abang Johari said this in response to Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s remark that he was baffled by the dissatisfaction from Sarawak government officials with their share of the federal funds under Budget 2020.
Abang Johari said the federal government should not compare Sarawak to other states in Peninsular Malaysia.
He said the disbursement of allocation based on that rationale was unfair as Sarawak has larger land mass, which required more funds to develop its basic infrastructure.
Knowing the financial challenges of the federal government, Abang Johari said the Sarawak government had to be innovative in generating its own revenue.