Where did RM2 bln slated for 11MP projects go to? asks state PAC chief

More than RM2 billion worth of federal projects approved for Sarawak under the current 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) had been cancelled, postponed and placed under ‘Keep In View’ (KIV) since Pakatan Harapan (PH) came to power, the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly was told yesterday.

Aidel Lariwoo (GPS-Sadong Jaya), who is also the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Sarawak chairman, said there was suspicion that the funds meant for these projects had been diverted elsewhere for other purposes.

According to him, the affected projects included 13 major ones such as the Batang Igan, Batang Lupar and Batang Rambungan bridges, a Type-5 health clinic and several treatment plants.

“Regardless of which coalition that forms the government, the funding for these projects is already there. The ceiling allocation for the Malaysia Plan is for a period of five years, and further distributed under the Mid-Term Rolling Plan.

“So this means that basically the allocation (for these projects) is already there, but suddenly the allocation became ‘kosong’ (zero),” he told reporters after having delivered his debate speech at the DUN.

Asked if the funds could have been diverted to build the Sarawak–Sabah Link Road (SSLR) launched on Tuesday,

Aidel said this should not be the case as Sarawak deserved the funds more, being the largest contributor to the nation’s coffers all this while.

Moments after that, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Youth chief Gerald Rentap Jabu, who was also at the press conference, interjected – saying that Works Minister Baru Bian, who launched the SSLR project, should serve Sarawak’s interests first.

“In 2017, LNG (liquefied natural gas) extracted from the shores of Bintulu was worth RM41.1 billion. But where’s the money? The money is diverted elsewhere,” he said.

Earlier in debating the 2020 State Budget, Aidel questioned why PH ministers and elected representatives from Sarawak would not dare to question ‘their bosses in Putrajaya’ regarding the cancelled projects in Sarawak.

He also questioned why PH did not honour its election promise to defer repayment of National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans for borrowers earning less than RM4,000 a month.

“In this regard, we should thank our Chief Minister, who announced a RM30-million initial fund to assist Sarawakian graduates settle their education loans, as well as to assist Sarawakian students who cannot obtain any student loan,” he said.