KUCHING, Oct 26: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Women Central has lambasted the federal government for insulting Sarawak with its decision to delay fair-revenue sharing with Sabah and Sarawak.
Irked by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s reply to Batang Sadong MP Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri in Parliament, SUPP Women chief Kho Teck Wan said this clearly showed Lim’s true colours — disrespectful and insincere. Lim had, among others, urged Sarawak to be patient and wait a bit longer for better revenue sharing.
The country’s revenue, she stressed, should be shared fairly among its partners, who have contributed to the national coffer, regardless of fiscal position.
“In fact, the minister doesn’t even have the right to determine when and if the revenue is to be paid or not, as revenue sharing is defined in the Federal Constitution under Article 112D,” she said in a press statement issued today.
Lim had informed Parliament that the PH government would come up with a formula next year but added that the revenue sharing with Sabah and Sarawak might not be possible unless the fiscal position of the country improved.
“If the minister is unable to figure out a fair revenue sharing formula and incapable of improving the fiscal position, perhaps he should consider offloading his responsibilities by returning the financial autonomy back to Sarawak,” she added.
SUPP Women Central reminded Lim that Sarawak, as a partner in the Federation of Malaysia, had contributed so much to the nation’s revenue.
“Based on the current global petroleum price, Sarawak contributed about RM250 million to the nation’s income every day,” she pointed out.
“If Penang can get RM8.4 billion LRT project, and Putrajaya can have the third national car project, then Sarawak deserves a bigger share of the resources,” she argued.
Kho asked Lim to remember his pledges, especially to honour Sarawak’s rights and interests as enshrined in Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), in his interviews, social media and public talks in Sarawak prior to the 14th General Election (GE14).
SUPP Women Central also reminded PH Sarawak of its election promise to return the 50 per cent of tax collected in Sarawak back to to the state. — DayakDaily
