RM32 mil special grant ‘nothing to shout about’, say Sarawak party leaders

(From left) Sarawak tourism minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. Batang Sadong MP Nancy Shukri and SUPP youth chief Michael Tiang

KUCHING: Sarawak party leaders have labelled the 2020 Budget as only a “feast for the eyes and ears” of the people.

In reality, they said, it showed the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government has failed to address its election promises.

State tourism minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Putrajaya has not fulfilled its pledge to return 50% of the tax collected in Sarawak and 20% of oil royalty, among others.

He acknowledge that the budget did make a provision for a special grant to Sarawak but the amount is “nothing to shout about”.

“Sarawak is the largest state in Malaysia and granting it a mere RM32 million as special grant is just like feeding Sarawakians with crumbs.

“Also, based on the allocation for development given to Sarawak, we can forget about being on par with Malaya,” he said.

Karim said the budget is meant to address Malaya’s needs, adding that the development gap between the peninsula and the Borneon states will get bigger.

Batang Sadong MP Nancy Shukri said most of the programmes announced in the 2020 Budget had already been carried out by the previous government.

She said the present government only introduced digital services tax to generate more revenue for the country.

“As expected, Sarawak did not get what ought to be given,” she said.

Nancy said the federal government had paid Sarawak a special grant totalling only RM16 million since 1969.

“In the 2020 Budget, Sarawak will now receive a special grant of RM32 million and the amount will be increased to RM54 million in five years’ time.

“Obviously, there was no proper review under Article 112D of the Federal Constitution as agreed upon by the MA63 Steering Committee.

“This shows the federal government has again played us out,” she said, adding that she will debate on the matter in the Dewan Rakyat.

Nancy also said the allocation for rural water projects worth RM470 million and electrification worth RM500 million for Sabah and Sarawak did not indicate the amount each state would receive.

“We hope that PH government focuses on serving the people and stop politicking,” she said.

Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) youth chief Michael Tiang welcomed the increase in special grant under Article 112D of Federal Constitution but described the RM32 million as “petty”.

“The extra allocation of RM32 million is still far from the 20% oil royalty as promised by PH during the 14th general election.

“The amount is petty compared to Sarawak’s oil production revenue, which is easily more than RM200 million a day,” he said.

Tiang said that according to reports, Sabah will receive RM5.2 billion in development expenditure for 2020 whereas Sarawak will get only RM4.4 billion.

“Is it another move to marginalise Sarawak?” he asked.

He said Sarawakians were being taken for a ride as the PH government continued to break its election promises.

“Where are the PH Sarawak leaders who shouted slogans wanting to make our lives better before the 14th general election?” he asked. - FMT