By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Nov 20: Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has reminded Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen (PH-DAP) to stop spreading unfounded concerns about the future of Sarawakians, emphasising the State’s robust financial standing and long-term planning.
Abang Johari said Sarawak’s financial capacity has been further strengthened with the additional source of revenue collected from the State sales tax of petroleum products, of which to date, RM18.6 billion has been registered.
“I wish to remind Ahli Yang Berhormat for Padungan not to create unnecessary fear for the future of Sarawakians as we have established our Sarawak Sovereign Wealth Future Fund.
“Here, we are committed on the appropriation of an initial RM8 billion into the Future Fund and followed by subsequent annual appropriation over a period of 20 years and until then the money from the fund cannot be withdrawn, even by successive governments.
“This is proof of our commitment in safeguarding and preserving the State reserves for the people of Sarawak. Thus, the claim that our reserves are at risk and depleting is baseless and totally uncalled for,” said Abang Johari when delivering his ministerial winding up speech at Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) sitting here today.
He said the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government is a responsible government and the coalition will build a prosperous future for all Sarawakians.
“There was a ‘prophecy’ that Sarawak would become bankrupt during the first three years of my leadership. As all of you know, this did not happen.
“Instead of becoming bankrupt, we managed to further increase our revenue, while at the same time, Sarawak became a high-income economy, recognised by the Word Bank,” said Abang Johari, who is Gedong assemblyman (GPS-PBB).
In 2019, the then Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said Sarawak would go bankrupt in three years’ time if the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition continued to rule the State.
He said the State’s coffers of RM30 billion will be exhausted in three years if GPS were to maintain Sarawak’s annual budget of RM11 billion each year. — DayakDaily
