KUCHING: Sarawak would have plenty of money at its disposal if DAP leaders in the previous federal government had kept their election promises to the state, said Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
According to him, DAP leaders such as its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and its Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen had failed to fulfil promises of 20 per cent oil royalty and returning 50 per cent of tax collected in Sarawak to the state when they were in the federal cabinet.
“If they have given to Sarawak what they had promised in their election manifesto, namely oil and gas royalty to Sarawak be increased from five per cent to 20 per cent and 50 per cent of taxes collected from Sarawak be returned to Sarawak, I’m sure the Sarawak government now would have lots more money to assist Sarawakians including the SMEs (small and medium enterprises).
“Lim as finance minister and Chong as a deputy minister were in the federal government for two years and they had all the opportunity to assist Sarawak and commit to their pledges but they chose not to,” Abdul Karim pointed out yesterday.
Abdul Karim, who is also state Youth and Sports Minister, was responding to a statement made by Chong on Tuesday suggesting the Sarawak government utilise part of its RM31 billion reserves to save the SMEs in Sarawak adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chong had said these funds could be used to subsidise 50 per cent of wages of all business employees, adding that reserves are meant for rainy days and Sarawak is now in a mega storm.
Chong in the statement also claimed DAP Sarawak will definitely support the bill to utilise such funds when tabled in the State Legislative Assembly.
Abdul Karim, who also holds the post of Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister, asserted that the top priority now was to make sure the Movement Control Order (MCO) would prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
“It’s a temporary measure. It’s only two weeks that the MCO is imposed and YB Chong is already saying many SMEs are going to close shop and go bankrupt. Don’t be rhetoric and politically over-sensationalising things.
“The government is not dishing out monies like Santa Claus. Lots of the perks and benefits are meant to reduce the burden of entrepreneurs, SMEs and companies too.
“Has YB Chong even bothered to check all this or is he trying to ride on that call by some SMEs and running down what the state has done?” asked Abdul Karim.
He also wondered why Chong is now becoming more interested in Sarawakian matters since becoming the opposition again.
“And now he (Chong) suddenly becomes very Sarawakian at heart again. It’s better for him to shut up at this trying time and let the new federal government and state government address this global Covid-19 problem the way they think best,” he asserted.