Better for Sarawak to have financial autonomy — minister

KUCHING: Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian seems to be unimpressed with Budget 2018, in stating that Sarawak could repair its dilapidated schools and hospitals faster if it were to be given financial autonomy.

In this regard, he emphasises his constant stand that the ultimate financial panacea for Sarawak would be to have autonomy like owning its own oil fields, petroleum company and banking licenses, as well as to have more say in regional flight connectivity.

He added that by achieving this, Sarawak’s economic and infrastructural development would be effectively enhanced and expedited, enabling it to catch up with Peninsular Malaysian and the rest of the world.

Nevertheless, the minister does describe Budget 2018 as being more ‘inclusive’ than Budget 2017.

“I believe with financial autonomy, we can repair our dilapidated schools and hospitals much faster than depending on annual national budget or any Malaysia Plan to take notice of Sarawakians’ needs.

“I believe that for Sarawak to grow stronger, we must achieve financial independence via financial autonomy,” he said in his immediate response to the tabling of the Budget 2018 yesterday.

Dr Sim, who is still a Senator in Dewan Rakyat and also Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president, said Budget 2018 tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was indeed a more ‘inclusive’ budget than Budget 2017, with many allocations of federal funds slated for electricity and clean water supply for rural areas in Sarawak.