By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 13: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s expected ‘good news’ for Sarawak when he attends the national-level Malaysia Day celebration here on Sept 16 should translate into concrete gains for the State in Budget 2027, says Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Kuching Branch acting secretary and Youth chairman Wung Duk Ying.
In a statement, he said holding the national Malaysia Day celebration here, with Anwar attending the official ceremony at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) before a 5,000-strong crowd, carried significant symbolic weight.
“With the federal Budget due to be tabled in early October, Putrajaya should demonstrate its commitment to Sarawak through fairer allocations and firmer commitments towards the state’s development and constitutional rights,” he said.
Wung said Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) longstanding demands centre on defending Sarawak’s constitutional autonomy and securing a fairer share of federal resources.
These include the full implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63); greater autonomy in areas such as education, healthcare, and justice; fairer and more institutionalised federal grants, and greater control over the State’s energy and natural resources.
He said Budget 2027 should also provide stronger backing for Sarawak’s green economy, inclusive growth, and innovation agenda.
Wung said Sarawak has shown it can finance major development projects, with state revenue reaching RM13.5 billion in 2025, exceeding its original projection.
The State government had subsequently proceeded with infrastructure projects previously shelved or cancelled by Putrajaya, including bridges and improvements to water and power supply, while expanding rural development initiatives and free tertiary education.
“Sarawak’s ability to pay does not absolve Putrajaya of its own obligations. Where Sarawak has advanced money for federal projects, there must be a clear arrangement to repay it,” he said.
Wung said Sarawak’s stronger fiscal position should therefore complement, rather than replace, federal funding and responsibilities.
He also credited the formation of GPS following the 2018 general election with giving Sarawak a more independent political platform to pursue its constitutional rights.
He said the State’s approach to MA63 negotiations had been grounded in legal and historical research, including the study of official records at the National Archives in London.
Therefore, Wung called on Sarawakians to continue supporting GPS under Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at the coming 13th State election, saying this was necessary to sustain Sarawak’s development agenda and efforts to defend its constitutional rights.
On Sept 11, it was reported that Anwar is expected to announce interim measures related to Sarawak’s claims during the Malaysia Day celebrations in Kuching on Sept 16. — DayakDaily
