RM1,000 for every newborn Sarawakian next year — Abg Johari
EVERY Sarawakian baby born next year will be given a one- off incentive of RM1,000, irrespective of ethnicity, religious belief and social status.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg announced this yesterday when tabling the 2019 State Budget, stating that the state government has decided to introduce this new policy.
“This incentive can only be withdrawn upon attaining the age of 18 and is meant for their further education or as capital to pursue their career,” he said.
While tabling the 2019 State Budget, Abang Johari also took a jab at the 2019 Federal Budget which he said was not reflective of fair and equitable allocation to the State of Sarawak.
He said that during the tabling of the Federal Mid-Term Review of the Eleventh Malaysia Plan 2016-2020, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had given assurance that priority would be given to development in Sarawak and Sabah to spur both states to higher economic growth.
“We call upon the federal government to fulfil these promises made. The State of Sarawak has contributed significantly to the national economic growth as well as to the federal government coffer in terms of collection of taxes and revenue from oil and gas.
“It is only fair that the federal government provide a more equitable allocation to the State of Sarawak, particularly for development purposes. This is imperative so that all Sarawakians can enjoy the same quality of life as our counterpart and to narrow its development gap with that of Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.
He also stated the allocation for Sarawak of RM4.346 billion as announced in the 2019 Federal Budget is only 7.94 per cent of the total development budget as compared to RM4.336 billion in 2018, which was 9.42 per cent of the total development budget for 2018.
“The 2019 Federal Budget does not reflect a fair and equitable allocation to the State of Sarawak despite the promise made by the state Pakatan Harapan to make sure that the States of Sarawak and Sabah will get 30 per cent of the federal development allocation.”