Dayak-based NGOs want fair distribution of 2025 National Budget to all races
MIRI: A group of Dayak-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is calling on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim not to marginalise any race in the distribution of 2025 National Budget allocations.
“We urge Prime Minister YAB Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to create special provisions for all races in a fair and equitable manner,” they said in a press statement yesterday.
The statement was signed by the Sarawak Indigenous Intellectual Association (Perantis) founder Wellie Henry Majang, legal adviser Paul King and deputy president Ricky Sani as well as Persatuan Masyarakat Salako dan Rara Sarawak (Perasa) president Robert Umping and Persatuan Terabai Menua Sarawak advisor, Wilfred Nissem.
They said among the fundamental issues in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) was the equality of development between Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah, with the diversity of races also being given attention to.
“We saw other races also received special allocation in the distribution of the national Budget in the past. It is well known that the Chinese, Indians and Orang Asli already have a special allocation fund.
“Therefore, we ask that on the basis of equality, the Dayaks of Sarawak and KDM (Kadazan Dusun Murut) of Sabah should also have their respective distributions,” they urged.
According to them, since the establishment of Malaysia in 1963, the situation of the Dayaks has been very disappointing.
“Our existence in the formation of Malaysia seems to continuously be marginalised and there have never been any specific funds allocated to the Dayaks in Sarawak under the national Budget.
“The previous leaders who signed the MA63 did so in good faith and believed that they contributed to the development of the country by making an agreement in the spirit of shared prosperity.
“As partners in the formation of Malaysia, all revenue should be divided based on several factors, such as the contribution of Sarawak to the national finances, as well as the income received by the federal government through the exploitation of the state’s natural resources and the revenue received from taxes in Sarawak.
“We have also never heard about the allocation or special funds for the Kadazan-Dusun-Murut-Rungus (KDMR) people in Sabah.
“This means that there is an imbalance in terms of allocation or distribution to the races in Malaysia. We cannot have a race that is left behind in terms of allocations. The constantly mooted phrase ‘shared prosperity’ needs to be enjoyed by all Malaysians including the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak,” they stressed.
The statement pointed out that the federal government should focus on the socioeconomic aspects, education and welfare of the indigenous community.
“We urge that the welfare and needs of the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak be among the focuses that will be reviewed in the Budget 2025 engagement sessions,” they stressed further.
The NGOs said the Prime Minister needs to create special provisions for the Dayaks of Sarawak.
“We believe that federal grants and appropriate allocations in line with the original promises of MA63 when Malaysia was established can be implemented more transparently,” said the NGOs further.