KOTA KINABALU: An opposition leader challenged Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman at the State Legislative Assembly sitting yesterday to show the courage to ask for an increase in the state’s oil royalty to at least 20 percent.
Sri Tanjung assemblyman, Jimmy Wong said there was no use ‘scolding’ the opposition for asking the 15 percent increase from the existing five per cent oil royalty.
“The oil royalty must give justice to everyone, this is a free gift from God, so every person must have a fair share.”
Commenting on the newly unveiled State Budget 2013 at the State assembly building yesterday, he said the state deserved at least RM8 billion in allocation, instead of just slightly over RM4 billion, as tabled by Musa.
Comparing it to Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) ‘alternative budget’ which was announced on Wednesday, he said the state would enjoy a surplus revenue, rather than worrying about whether there is enough allocation to fund development projects, which are badly needed by the people.
“It seems that the PR leaders are wiser than the Barisan Nasional leaders, such as (Infrastructure Development Minister) Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah, who I believe is the one who is out of this world,” referring to Raymond’s description of Pakatan’s alternative budget.
“Our budget is unrealistic but we have done research and believe ours is a true budget,” he said.
Noting that Raymond was complaining about the losses incurred due to the non revenue water, Wong claimed there has been no effort by the Government to improve the situation.
“Why are we in Sabah, which has been dubbed as the poorest state in the country, asking to pay 90 sen per-entry for water supply, while other states such as Sarawak is only paying 47 sen? Where is justice in this?” asked Wong.(BP)
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