By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Dec 3: Sarawak has debt but manageable, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of only 11.5 per cent compared to the federal government’s 65 per cent.
Responding to Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen during the ministerial winding-up speech, Finance and New Economy II Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas challenged the opposition lawmaker’s repeated attacks on Sarawak’s financial management.
“If Padungan wishes to speak on economics, perhaps he should question why the national public debt to GDP ratio stands at around 65 per cent, instead of constantly attacking Sarawak, where our ratio is only 11.5 per cent. Why does he continue to selectively put Sarawak down?,” he said in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) sitting today.
Uggah, who is also Deputy Premier, dismissed Chong’s allegation that Sarawak’s deficit figures exclude spending under the Alternative Funding Initiative (AFI) as “misleading and incorrect”.
He explained that Chong had conflated operating expenditure, development expenditure, and alternative funding projects, leading to a “confused and inaccurate conclusion”.
He also defended borrowing for development, stressing it is a strategic and responsible practice followed by advanced economies such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and China.
“Delaying infrastructure only increases long-term costs,” he said.
Addressing claims that Sarawak had “no debt,” Uggah clarified that he had never made such a statement.
“Alternative funding is part of the debt. But our debt-to-GDP ratio is only 11.5 per cent, compared to the federal government’s 65 per cent. Which is better?,” he pointed out.
Uggah further questioned Chong’s consistent opposition to development initiatives. “Every time Sarawak builds roads, water systems, digital infrastructure, ART, hydrogen facilities, Ahli Yang Berhormat for Padungan cries, ‘bankrupt’.”
He warned that if the government had followed such fear-driven narratives five years ago, Sarawak would have missed out on major projects such as Pan Borneo Highway, the digital economy expansion, the hydrogen industry, the ART system, rural transformation initiatives, and major bridges linking communities.
“Padungan is consistent, that much I agree. The difference is clear. While he chooses fear, chooses to be ‘Mr No’, chooses to misrepresent and twist figures, chooses anti-development, the Sarawak Government chooses progress,” he said.
Uggah concluded that under Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s leadership, Sarawak’s finances remain strong, certified, and internationally recognised.
“We will continue to invest, to build, and to push forward, because development delayed is development denied. Sarawak is building its future steadily, responsibly, and confidently. We will not allow fear-driven narratives to hold us back. We will build. We will grow. And we will secure a prosperous, future-ready Sarawak for the next generation,” he asserted. — DayakDaily
