Claim of reduced federal funding for Unimas ‘unfair statement’ — Chong
KUCHING: Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chien Jen has lashed out at Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Dudong branch chairman Wong Ching Yong for the latter’s attempt to give an impression that the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led government has reduced its funding for Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas).
Chong, who is also PH Sarawak chairman, says it is unfair for Wong to make selective reading of the Budget 2020, picking up two figures and used the difference to imply a drastic slash in allocation for Unimas.
In a statement made in Sibu recently, Wong pointed out that compared to RM42 million received this year, Unimas would only get over RM17 million under Budget 2020.
Chong, who is also Democratic Action Party ( DAP) Sarawak chief, stressed that in any budget, there would be two parts – the operating expenditure (OE) and development expenditure (DE).
He said what Wong referred to was the DE.
“The DE is allocated under Budget 2020 based on the submission of proposed projects by various institutions before the preparation of the budget documents.
“The figure is only for certain proposed projects to be carried out next year.
“In 2019, it (funding for Unimas) was RM42 million and in 2020, RM17 million – this allocation was based on DE of Unimas,” Chong told reporters here yesterday.
“I regret the selective reading of the budget by the SUPP leader (s), with respect of the allocation for Unimas.
“It’s either because they do not know how to read the budget documents, or are purposely twisting the facts.
“I am surprised by SUPP leader (s), who omitted the OE but only focused on the DE.
“I do not know if this was done intentionally, to give the impression that there’s a substantial cut in allocation for Unimas,” he added.
The DE for some universities would be reduced, and increased for others – proof of no discrimination against Unimas, argued Chong.
On another matter, the federal deputy minister challenged Petra Jaya MP Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof to list down the yearly budget allocations and proportions that Sarawak had obtained during the time of previous federal government’s administration under Barisan Nasional (BN).
Chong was confident that the allocations and proportions for Sarawak in 2020 were way above any single year that the state received back when it was under the BN rule.
“He ( Fadillah) was a federal minister (then) and therefore, he should have the figures.
“All these years, Sarawak has been unfairly treated by BN, in terms of the budget allocation.
“It’s only after the PH became federal government, that the injustices against Sarawak are rectified,” he said in countering Fadillah’s statement about Chong’s calculations using state specific figures to justify the percentage of DE for Sarawak.
Fadillah was quoted as saying that Chong must insist for Sarawak and Sabah to get RM16.8 billion for their total DEs under Budget 2020, and not RM9.6 billion as outlined.
Chong also reminded Fadillah that his earlier package promises of 20 per cent oil royalty for and 50 per cent tax return to Sarawak were on condition that Sarawak would have autonomy on education and healthcare matters.
“But these could not take effect because the state government had rejected such offer proposed by PH Sarawak,” he said.
Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong and Chong’s special assistant Sim Kiat Leng were also present at the press conference.