By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Sept 23: Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has urged the federal government to play its part in delivering outcomes that support the State’s economic ambitions, pointing out that Sarawak’s revenue exceeded the total federal allocations channelled to the State between 2022 and 2025.
He said the figures reflected the Sarawak government’s efforts to strengthen and develop the State’s economy, and should be complemented by greater federal support to help Sarawak achieve its goal of becoming a high-income State while raising the disposable income of its people.
Speaking at the Sarawak-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Transformation Programme – Phase 2: A Pledge for Good Governance, High Performance and Value Creation ceremony held at a hotel here on Tuesday (Sept 22), Abang Johari said a bar chart presented by the Ministry of Finance during the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63) meeting on Sept 11 had prompted him to clarify the figures.
He said the ministry’s presentation suggested that federal spending on Sarawak and Sabah was higher than the revenue generated by the two states.
However, Abang Johari said Sarawak’s own figures showed that the State’s revenue was higher than the federal allocations it received between 2022 and 2025.
“During the meeting, I explained to the Ministry of Finance, particularly the Secretary-General of the Treasury, that their chart was misleading.
“Sarawak’s revenue is higher than what you have given to Sarawak. That is your chart, not my chart,” he said.
According to the Premier, a comparison of State revenue and federal allocations clearly showed that Sarawak generated more income than the level of federal funding reflected in the ministry’s presentation.
He said the State’s strong revenue performance was the result of sustained efforts by the Sarawak government to strengthen the economy, diversify its revenue base and pursue strategic development initiatives.
He therefore called on the federal government to share the responsibility of driving Sarawak’s development by making decisions and delivering outcomes that would further support the State’s economic growth.
“This is so that Sarawak can emerge as a high-income State and, at the same time, ensure that the people here have high disposable incomes,” he said. — DayakDaily
