KUCHING, June 30: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan reminded members of Persatuan Anak Jati Lawas di Kuching (Jati) to not be swayed or instigated by outside political forces.
He said many of these instigations seemed to insult the intelligence of Sarawakians, and this is unacceptable as they were baseless and downright insulting.
“Then recently there is one federal minister claiming that Sarawak will go bankrupt in three years, making us Sarawakians look stupid,” Awang Tengah said during the Jati Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri do here this afternoon.
He opined that the federal minister was saying that as a political ploy to instigate Sarawakians. In fact, he added, any accountant would know that apart from just spending, the state also earns from various revenue streams.
For example, Awang Tengah said, the oil and gas sales tax imposed by the state would add to the revenue of the state, and the state does not have to even touch its reserves.
“We are not stupid. Our wisdom has been proved for 17 consecutive years as we have been named as the state with one of the best financial management in the country by the Auditor-General.
“The RM11 billion state budget this year does not even touch our reserve,” he said.
He also urged Jati members to continue to give their strong support to Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg so that Sarawak will continue to be administered by Sarawak-based parties.
He said only Sarawakians can determine what Sarawak needs and decide their own fate and future.
Awang Tengah also gave assurance that the GPS government will continue to fight for Sarawak’s rights in accordance with the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“We will fight to regain our rights which had been eroded over the years,” he said. — DayakDaily
