Letter to the Editor
By Lating Minggang
Sarawak already had been subjected to the “shortchange agenda” by the federal (government) for the past 59 over years. Thus, when Sarawak got less than Sabah in terms of development allocations in the just-tabled Budget 2023, it did not come as a surprise at all.
However, Sarawak with a vast geographical landscape, and with many areas, especially in the rural, still lacks basic infrastructure development. Rightfully, the State should have been taken into consideration by the federal (government) when it comes to the budget allocation. But to Sarawakians’ dismay, the State not only was shortchanged in terms of the budget allocation, but also, the State got the least amount, as compared to the other two so-called equal partners, Malaya and Sabah.
In the eyes of the federal (government), it does seem that the equal partner status being accorded to Sarawak in the constitution, does not carry any weight at all, as though, it has no value-added.
In the recent budget allocation, the State merely got RM5.4 billion, whereas, Sabah, got RM6.3 billion. Malaya, as always, is in a different class of its own, and hence, it was uncomparable, as it got the biggest chunk, of the budget allocation. The total budget for this year was RM372.3 billion.
On Oct 7, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz in the Dewan Rakyat had said that, the development allocation of RM6.3 billion and RM5.4 billion to Sabah and Sarawak respectively, would be utilised for the various infrastructure projects, such as water, electricity, road, health and education.
Thus, to continue with the status-quo mode, with no drastic remedial actions taken by the State, it would mean that the State would still continue to play the game as a follower, according to the federal government’s tune.
It’s the thought of being shortchanged all this while, and then being made to undergo a winding process, i.e. with respect to the restoration of the situation, in order to get equal treatment, that really hurts Sarawakians’ feelings and it does touch their “bottom-line”. This is what we can construe as, being subjected to the, ‘catch me if you can’ game. If that is the case, in terms of infra development, the State can never be on par with Malaya, but, it will always be a follower, in the second fiddle role.
After 59 years in Malaysia, Sarawak still looks like a ‘misfit’, just like a square peg trying its best to fit itself in a round hole.
However, no matter how it tries to fit itself in, it just can’t, because it isn’t meant to be in it in the first place.
Malaysia was never the missing puzzle (piece) that was needed by Sarawak to complete its equation, however, for Malaya, it was a different scenerio. Sarawak, had always been as it still is, being badly needed, as the missing puzzle piece, to be its ‘cash-cow’, and thus, an important component of its wealth generating plans.
However, all is not lost, as long as the State has the “political will”, to do the “make and mend”, it can still narrow the differential gap in terms of revenue being generated, to which, one of the ways, is to increase the petroleum sales tax, to 7.5 per cent or 10 per cent.
The federal (government) should not blame Sarawak for taking these drastic remedial actions, but itself is to be blamed, for pushing the State to the corner towards wall, and not giving the State any due consideration, and keep on repeating the same mistakes, over and over again, for so many years. — DayakDaily
Lating Minggang is the Walikota for Kapit District Council.
This is the personal opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of DayakDaily. Letters to the Editor may be lightly edited for clarity.
