By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Nov 4: Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian says if Sarawak Budget 2020 is “lollies”, then there will be more “lollies” for Sarawakians in the next few years.
He did not rebut the opposition calling this year’s budget “lollies for election” as he hoped the Sarawak government would continue to dispense “lollies” on a regular basis.
“The opposition will call this a few things including this is ‘lollies for election’. But if that is right, then we hope it (the Sarawak government) will give lollies every year or every five years.
“The revenue will continue to grow in the next few years. And we will be able to give more lollies like what the opposition has said.
“If the Sarawak government has so much money, do you want us anak-anak Sarawak ‘tengok saja’ (be only bystanders)?” asked Dr Sim at a press conference on the sidelines of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today.
Dr Sim noted that since last year, the Sarawak government has been tabling a RM10 billion budget and this will continue in years to come.
This, he said, has been made possible due to an increase in state revenue. He noted that just the tax on raw water alone will bring about another RM600 million, which is half of what Petronas should pay for sales tax under the Oil Mining Ordinance 1958.
“I am very sure in the next few years, you will see an exponential increase in (Sarawak’s) revenue.
“We are not going to stop at RM10 billion. In next two or three years, we will expect a lot more than RM10 billion,” said Dr Sim.
To him, this is a continuation of what he termed “sharing of Sarawak’s wealth” or “sharing Sarawak’s prosperity”.
“Unfortunately, while Sarawak shares the prosperity with Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak “tengok saja” on sharing Malaysia’s prosperity,” said Dr Sim. — DayakDaily
