NGO questions ‘equal partnership’ in national budget

KOTA KINABALU: Angkatan Perpaduan Sabah (APS) has asked whether the spirit of “equal partnership” between Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia has been taken into consideration and applied by the Federal Government in making the National 2021 Budget.

In a statement yesterday, the non-governmental organisation (NGO) explained that this was because the amount of development allocations for Sabah and also Sarawak remained like previously.

"This is despite the fact that there is now a Ministry of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) Government, said APS vice president Paul Kadau, commenting on the national budget where Sabah has been allocated a development allocation of RM5.1 billion, which is lower than the RM5.2 billion received in 2020.

The Federal Government is allocating RM322.5 billion for Budget 2021, or 20.6 percent of the country's gross domestic product, higher than the previous year's allocation of RM297 billion. Operating expenditure will account for 73.3 percent, or RM236.5 billion of the government's expenditure, while development expenditure will be at RM69 billion or 21.4 percent of the national budget.

“Only RM5.1 development allocation for Sabah? What happened to the equal partnership between Sabah, Sarawak and the Federation of Malaya?

“We would like to ask what is the function of the Ministry of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs in relations to the word ‘equal partners' in the context of the development allocation given in the 2021 National Budget to the people of Sabah, whether it is appropriate or fair, or not…we hope the Minister of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili will give explanation without prejudice,” said Paul.

He also asked what happened to the equal partners that Parti Star Sabah has been fighting for and what the party leaders are saying now about this.

“What is the stand of the State leaders on such treatment continues to be received from the Federal Government since previously. It seems Sabah and its people continue to be shortchanged by the new Federal Government, like previously,” he said.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister cum Agriculture and Food Industry Development Minister Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan was reported to have described that the mere RM5.1 billion development allocation for Sabah next year as disappointing and inadequate.

The Star Sabah president said the allocation, which is lower than last year's budget of RM5.2 billion, gave the impression that the Federal Government is treating Sabah the way the previous Federal Government had always done.

Nevertheless, he said the State Government could understand the situation the Federal Government faced and the economic downturn suffered, not only by Malaysia but also by other countries in the region and globally.

At the same time, he said the government was also forced to set aside RM17 billion funds intended for dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Judging by the distribution of the development fund, we could observe that Sabah will benefit from not only the RM5.1 billion specified for Sabah.

“The total development expenditure is RM69 billion, and they include various projects, including Pan Borneo Highway in Sabah, agriculture development, economic corridors, and several other incentives meant to stimulate the economy.

"Under the budget, the Federal government also announced a special RM1,000 grant for traders, taxi drivers, e-hailing drivers, and tour guides in Sabah,” he said.

Jeffrey also hoped the Federal Government would allocate a more considerable amount in next year's Federal budget for Sabah's infrastructure development once the battle with Covid-19 is over.

“Increasing the infrastructure development fund for Sabah is crucial as the state is desperate to keep up with its neighbours,” he said.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor welcomed the 2021 National Budget as a decisive one aimed at addressing the devastating impact of the Covid19 pandemic across all sectors of the community and economy.

While the first focus of RM322.5 billion 2021 Budget, which was the biggest in the country's history was the fight against Covid-19, he was glad that it was also an expansionary one that took into account other sectors to ensure the economy recovers strongly.

The National 2021 Budget will add more to the success of the government's RM305 billion economic stimulus initiatives that had started since May, he said, adding that he was hopeful it would focus on growing the economy to ensure the rakyat's prosperity, business continuity and increase economic resilience.

Under the 2021 Budget, he said Sabah has been allocated RM5.1 billion for infrastructure development apart from RM3.8 billion for the continuation of the Pan Borneo project and other packages.

“This proves the Federal Government has Sabah's interest close at heart,” said Hajiji.

Among the other goodies for Sabah was: RM1,000 Additional Special Grant for traders, which would also be extended to taxi drivers, e-hailing, hired cars and tour guides in Sabah to help cushion the dip in tourist arrivals; mobile bank service to be extended to Sabah to facilitate distribution of government assistance to the rural folks; RM41 million for the Native Customary Rights Programme in order to preserve the native rights in Sabah; allocation for the Essential Goods Distribution, LPG and Community Drumming Programme that will be extended to 34 new areas including in Sabah increased to RM200 million; and RM100 million for regional investment authority including Sabah Economic and Investment Authority (Sedia).