Why all budgets surplus – CM
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Haji Aman said the State Government has allocated RM300 million to Chinese schools, temples and churches since he became the chief minister and finance minister of Sabah.
“When I became the Chief Minister of Sabah, I checked the allocation given to Chinese schools, temples and churches… it was only about RM1.5 million a year.
“What can you do with RM1 million or RM2 million a year for Chinese schools, temples and churches?
“So I told my officer to increase the allocation to RM30 million a year,” he said.
Additionally, Musa said he has been recording surplus budget for the past 15 years as the chief minister.
Musa said he had learned a lot from big Chinese businessmen, including the late Tan Sri Lau Gek Poh, when he was a young businessman.
“When you do business, you must not spend more than you earn. You must learn how to save,” he said.
Hence, Musa said when he took over as finance minister, he learned that the expenditure must not be more than the revenue.
“That’s why every year my budget is always a surplus budget during good times and bad times, because I know how to save,” he said at the Pesta Ang Pow dinner organized by the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) here yesterday.
Musa also said the fact that people of different races, religions and cultures could sit down together, eat and drink as friends was our greatest asset.
He said the Chinese community and State Government were partners who shared the power, effort and work in developing Sabah into a progressive and successful state. He said Sabah would be stable and peaceful if all races could unite and cooperate in developing the state.
On another note, Musa reiterated the need to have more resorts, hotels and restaurants to cope with the influx of tourists.
He said Sabah has become a popular destination for tourists.
“Hotels and restaurants everywhere are full of tourists from all over the world, especially China, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Europe,” said Musa.
He said the tourists were attracted to Sabah because of the beauty of our State, as well as our friendly and warm people.
Musa reiterated his meeting with the chairlady of a China international travel service company, who told him that she could send one million tourists to Sabah but questioned whether there were enough hotels, resorts and restaurants here to cope with the large number of tourists.
As such, he stressed the need to have more hotels, resorts and restaurants in Sabah.
Meanwhile, FCAS president Tan Sri Dr T.C. Goh, J.P said the federation was the largest nongovernmental organization (NGO) which represented the Chinese community in Sabah.
He said FCAS organized various events and programmes every year, such as the Chinese New Year Carnival, Pesta Ang Pow, FCAS International Dragon Boat Race as well as other cultural, sports and educational activities.
“All these programmes involve huge expenditures and we are grateful that the Sabah State Government, led by Tan Sri Musa Aman, always supports our application for financial assistance,” said Goh.
Apart from government grant, he said the federation also received financial support from local Chinese leaders, while the remaining balance was borne by himself, FCAS vice president Datuk Susan Wong and others.
Goh stressed that FCAS would continue to support good efforts introduced by the State Government.
He said the federation could also serve as a bridge between the State Government and Chinese community in Sabah.
During the dinner, Musa also announced an allocation of RM50,000 for FCAS.
Also present were Goh’s spouse, Puan Sri Joanne Ho, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Seri Panglima Teo Chee Kang, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, Liang Caide, Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly Datuk Johnny Mositun, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah, Karamunting Assemblyman Datuk Charles O Pang, Luyang Assemblyman Datuk Hiew King Chew and FCAS deputy president Datuk Jimmy Yong.