By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Nov 8: Sarawak government should bar the entry of federal ministers who are here to destabilise the state.
Muara Tuang assemblyman Datuk Idris Buang said such decision should be made because the state’s well being must come first.
“I say whoever that comes in, even though they are ministers from the federal side, if they come here to destabilise the economy, the socioculture as well as the politics, stop them from coming.
“Never give them any entry permit,” he said when debating the Sarawak Budget 2020 at DUN sitting here today.
He said since Pakatan Harapan (PH) took over the federal government, many funds such as allowances of Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) have not been forth coming.
Idris also raised the non-payment of Petronas five per cent sales tax on petroleum products.
“The SST (state sales tax or five per cent petroleum tax) is (charged based on) a clear cut law, real tax that we have to collect.
“That (five per cent petroleum tax) is Sarawak’s. We have the rights because we are the permanent sovereign owners of our oil and gas and other resources,” he continued.
He added that as the federal government has been cutting off funding for Sarawak, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has to use the state’s own coffer to solve problems faced by the people.
These included channelling funds into rural electrification scheme, in which the former Barisan Nasional federal government had agreed to match whatever expenses incurred as well as flood mitigation, dilapidated schools and water grid systems, he claimed.
Idris felt that the federal government not only withheld funds and cancelling projects, but also some federal ministers had mocked and ridiculed Sarawak when they were in the State and receiving red carpet treatment.
“We are being more or less ridiculed, mocked by MOF (Ministry of Finance), as if we are miserably owing the federal government over RM2 billion and we are more or less failing to pay up.
“Whereas, the federal government is under obligation and constitution to give loans in various forms to all states, not just Sarawak and those loans of Sarawak are all structured carefully and timely paid,” he said, while adding Sarawak has RM27 billion in reserves, which he speculated to be the highest in the Malaysia.
Idris added that the federal government would need to change its attitude towards Sarawak, because the system that Malaysia practises is federalism.
“Because we live in federalism. I used to say in this august house, federalism is not a one-way street. It has been to be nurtured with cordial and mutual understanding and collaboration with the right spirit,” he said.
Idris also claimed that Sarawak has nothing to do with the 1MDB financial scandal involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“One thing, 1MDB has nothing to do with Sarawak. Follow the trial, there is not an iota of evidence that Sarawak is involved. We have nothing to do with the creation, the management of 1MDB, be fair,” he said. — DayakDaily
