By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, Nov 8: Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) is puzzled by the response of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leaders who expressed appreciation to the federal government for the paltry sum of RM4.5 billion allocated to Sarawak under Budget 2021.
With such a marginal amount of money allocated to the state as compared to the revenue contribution of Sarawak to the federal government, its spokesperson Alex Leong questioned whether Malaysia is a federation of “equal partners” or it is just political rhetoric.
“With only 6.5 per cent of the RM69 billion development expenditure allocated to Sarawak, is Malaysia indeed a federation of “equal partners” as claimed, or is it just political rhetoric?
“Every year, many Sarawakians are angry and frustrated when it comes to the National Budget.
“This is not surprising since Sarawak today is still undeveloped lacking basic amenities such as clean piped water, electricity, healthcare, decent schools and roads in suburban and rural areas,” he said in a statement.
Leong claimed that Sarawak’s petroleum production is in excess of RM80 billion a year of which Sarawak received only a five per cent cash payment.
He opined that an allocation of RM4.5 billion in Budget 2021 is a paltry sum for which Sarawakians need not be thankful for.
He also asked if GPS leaders were so easily gratified and satisfied with so little funds given by the federal government.
Thus, he opined that it is time for the Sarawak government to conduct a referendum to ask the people if they are happy and satisfied after 57 years in the federation of Malaysia.
Leong said that if the federation has indeed been a success story, allow the people of Sarawak to express their consent through a referendum.
“Self-determination is a basic human right and the people of Sarawak want to exercise the right to vote for our own political future,” Leong added. —DayakDaily
