MoF's 'no money no talk' statement insults Sarawakians

I was not aware of the latest statement from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on Tuesday until a Kuching journalist alerted me to it and asked for my comments.

So, I read it several times to digest it before I scribbled a few lines to the reporter, sharing my thoughts on the matter.

I have been following the tussle between the federal and Sarawak governments on the question of funding for the repair of dilapidated schools in Sarawak over the past months.

I have written about it here previously, urging political leaders from both sides to stop dilly-dallying on the issue as the matter was pressing and urgent. Sadly, after more than six months of negotiations, there is no solution in sight.

What is the latest MoF statement, issued in the name of Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, all about?

 In a nutshell, the federal government is ready to disburse RM350 million to the Sarawak government to repair dilapidated schools in the state, but only after Sarawak pays back the same amount first.

You can read it 100 times and the meaning, to me sounds like this: You pay me what you owe me first, then I will give you the money for the repair of your schools. Otherwise, forget it! I take that as an ultimatum from MoF.

In layman’s lingo, it’s no money, no talk. There is nothing else to discuss if the loan you took from me is not repaid. Doesn’t it resemble the many Ah Long stories we hear from MCA’s Michael Chong – a typical loan shark tale?

I wish Lim could be as sympathetic as the sundry shop towkay who is kind enough to allow housewives to take provisions with their buku tiga lima (555) on credit. Why? The finance minister does not trust Sarawak to repay its loan, is it?

No, I’m not begging for sympathy from Putrajaya, but I would have thought that a powerful finance minister would have been more diplomatic, befitting his public stature, in his language when dealing with the Sarawak government.

To me, this is yet another display of the condescending attitude of a federal minister. Lim seems to enjoy making Sarawakians feel and look ‘small’. By the way, who came to Sarawak last month and fired a demeaning salvo at us, saying that we will be bankrupt in three years?

I made an attempt to be fair to the finance minister by looking at what he said in a holistic manner, but find it difficult to defend him. 

Lim said that Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg had expressed his willingness to pay back RM350 million to Putrajaya in the near future, which is the first phase of the RM1 billion loan repayment.

He again reminded that the Sarawak government still owed Putrajaya RM2.352 billion as of June 30 this year, adding that the repayment of the RM1 billion would mean the debt to the federal government would stand at RM1.352 billion.

Every MoF statement issued on this subject over the past months carried that reminder. I take that as the minister’s trump card to embarrass Sarawak.

While I have to accept that Sarawak must repay the loan to Putrajaya, I, however, find Lim’s constant reminder an indication of the lack of trust on the matter.

I hope the finance minister has not forgotten that the Barisan Nasional government had made an allocation of RM500 million for the repair of rundown schools in Sarawak in its 2018 Budget. So, is it okay for the new Pakatan Harapan government not to honour that allocation now?

Is that the normal way for the new government to renege on what was promised? By the way, what about the 20 percent oil and gas royalty and the return of 50 percent of taxes collected from Sarawak to be returned to our homeland? Where is Putrajaya’s honour and integrity here? Harapan has ready excuses on why their election promises could not be fulfilled.

 Sarawakians are aware that a rough estimate of RM200 million is being sucked daily from Sarawak from the oil and gas industry. Pray tell why are the billions being prioritised for use in Malaya, while Sarawak has to beg and squabble over a mere RM1 billion to repair our dilapidated schools?

MoF has been complaining that the federal government is seriously in debt, and probably considers school repairs in Sarawak a low priority.

If Putrajaya has no money, it’s your duty to look for the money to fulfil your obligation to Sarawak. Isn’t education a federal matter?

Given this never-ending squabble between Putrajaya and Petra Jaya over the matter, perhaps it’s about time Sarawak requests for education autonomy.

Since education is an important factor governing the life of a nation, Sarawak should give it a priority to seek education autonomy, although it could be an additional burden. But we must be determined to do what is right for Sarawak.

I believe Sarawak will be able to handle education on its own if our resources are managed well by forthright and sincere political leaders. There are also capable and qualified Sarawakians to tackle educational matters in our homeland.

 As it stands today, I am not that optimistic that the issue would be resolved amicably any time soon.

As the repairs are urgent, I would suggest that Sarawak uses RM1 billion out of its reported RM31 billion reserves to get the work done expeditiously.

How it could be claimed back from the federal government is a matter which could be negotiated later. We can fight over it in the future.

What is important now is that the school repairs must proceed immediately. There is no more time to waste.

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FRANCIS PAUL SIAH heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS) and can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com - Mkini