MUKAH, June 22: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg shrugged off a recent statement that Sarawak would go bankrupt in three years’ time.
According to Bernama’s report, Abang Johari said the statement was made with the presumption that Sarawak had no income.
Besides an outstanding performance in financial administration, he asserted that Sarawak had income from various sources such as oil and gas.
“We have income from dividends, royalties, premiums and taxes. This year, I have implemented a five per cent tax on oil and gas exports, which will earn Sarawak around RM3 billion,” said Abang Johari at a Gawai celebration and launching of Zone 10 Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) at Kalang Longhouse, Ulu Bayan, Jalan Mukah-Selangau.
He also pointed out that Sarawak’s income in 2018 was RM7 billion.
Abang Johari was responding to a statement made by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, who, at the Sarawak DAP fund raising dinner themed “Sarawak Here We Come” in Kuching yesterday (June 21), said the state’s coffers of RM30 billion would be exhausted in three years if GPS were to maintain Sarawak’s annual budget of RM11 billion each year.
The statement has drawn flak from political leaders from GPS and other Sarawak-based parties such as State Reform Party (STAR) and Parti Bumiputera Kenyalang.
Meanwhile, the Sarawak Government is allocating RM5 million for the development of Sarawak’s sago industry.
At the same function, Abang Johari granted land titles to Native Customary Rights (NCR) land owners in Mukah and endowment funds to four recipients.
He also promised an annual fund of RM5,000 to the registered early childhood education institutions in Sarawak. — DayakDaily
