‘Putrajaya’s decision prompted S’wak govt to use own funds for devt’
KUCHING: The Sarawak government is utilising its own funds to develop the state due to the federal government’s move to postpone or scrap many infrastructure projects.
Tamin assemblyman Ir Christopher Gira said Putrajaya’s decision affected the construction of roads and bridges, as well as the upgrading of dilapidated schools in the state, thus prompting the Sarawak government to take matters into its own hands.
“Sarawak has no other choice but to use our own funds of RM11.9 billion for 2019, and from that amount, RM9 billion is going to be used to develop rural areas so that they too will be on par with the city.
“That is why the Sarawak government has decided to levy a five per cent sales tax on petroleum products to sustain the development agenda,” he said when officiating at the 20th anniversary dinner of Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak ( SIDS) Kuching branch, here Sunday.
The event was attended by about 400 people, including SIDS deputy chairperson Margaret Bedus, SIDS Kuching advisor Datin Senorita Linang, SIDS Kuching chairperson Monica Sita Gaik, and organising chairperson Lanjing Renggie.
Gira later pledged an allocation of RM20,000 to SIDS to carry out its activities, and also presented prizes to winners of a beadmaking competition organised by SIDS Kuching.
SIDS Kuching branch – established in 1998 with only 200 members – now has a membership of over 2,000.