KUCHING: Instead prioritising the interests of the people and investing in the needs of Sarawak, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government chose to send money away, said Dr Kelvin Yii, special assistant to Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen.
In a statement today, Yii claimed that Najib’s priority seems to be more of repairing his tainted public image rather than protecting the interests of his people including the so-called safe deposit of Sabah and Sarawak.
The recent statement by the Prime Minister promising US President Donald Trump a total investment of up to US$24 billion (RM100 billion) to help ‘strengthen the US economy’ is seen as a joke in the face for the needs of the people of Sabah and Sarawak.
In his recent meeting with Trump, Najib promised an investment between US$10 billion to US$20 billion in the aviation sector – US$10 billion of which would be purchases of Boeing aircraft by Malaysia Airlines Berhad.
Najib also added that the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) would invest between US$3 billion to US$4 billion to support US infrastructure development.
“This speaks volumes of Najib’s intentions to try to show off to the world at the expense of the interest of the people including those of Sabah and Sarawak.
“We all pay various taxes including GST which was promised to be pumped back into the country to build schools, roads, hospitals and basic necessities, but yet it seems that this money is sent away instead to enrich another developed country,” Yii said.
Citing examples in Sarawak itself, Yii added that there are 1,020 dilapidated schools in Sarawak, of which 415 are under Category 3 which indicates severe conditions and is considered unsafe for the use of students.
Road conditions in many areas of the state are also in appalling conditions including the Ba Kelalan-Long Semadoh road as well as Miri-Marudi road.
He added that in the rural areas, only about 40 to 45 per cent of homes have clean running water supply.
On top of that, there is also a lack in hospitals and medical facilities in the rural areas.
“Now we have to use our state’s money which belong to the people of Sarawak to cover up for the short-comings of the federal BN government including repairing the dilapidated school buildings, improving the facilities, even though this is the responsibility of the federal government.”
He asked if the state BN component parties will continue to sit idle and allow the federal government to sideline and marginalise their own people further.
“I urge our Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and Barisan Nasional Sarawak to (re)consider their support for such a government. It has not prioritised the needs of its own people,” Yii said.
